Darren Ryan

Darren Ryan (born 3 July 1972) is an English former footballer. He is currently Head of Youth Development at UAE Third Division League club Dubai Irish.

Career

Ryan began his professional career with Shrewsbury Town, as he progressed through the youth system and made four Football League appearances for them from 1990 to 1992. He later had two spells with Chester City and also played for Stockport County and Rochdale before drifting out of the English Football League in 1996. He has since become an established figure in Welsh football, through clubs including a successful period with professional club Barry Town and later Total Network Solutions and Newtown. He replaced his former Chester teammate Roger Preece as Newtown manager in October 2006. He remained with the club for four years, stepping down in August 2010. He joined Airbus UK as manager in March 2011 before returning to Newtown in June, but quit after just seventeen days in charge to become First Team Coach at Northwich Victoria.

He resigned from the club on 16 January 2012 along with the rest of Andy Preece's management, with the club reporting that Preece was expected to be appointed Director of Football at Welsh Premier League side Airbus UK Broughton the next day. The next day he was appointed as Head Coach at Airbus UK.

Ryan initially joined the Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy on a part-time basis before being appointed Under-18s coach in July 2017.

In July 2025, Ryan joined UAE Third Division League club Dubai Irish in the role of Head of Youth Development.