Darren Wassall

Managerial career After retiring as a player, in 2005, Wassall took charge of Burton's youth team.

In September 2013, Clough was dismissed by Derby County, and his backroom staff were sent on gardening leave. Wassall remained at the club, continuing his work with the youth academy under the tenure of new head coach Steve McClaren. Clough had stated in March 2013: "The academy should almost be ring fenced and whoever comes in next, I hope they have the sense to leave it alone and let it continue working."

After McClaren's successor Paul Clement was dismissed in February 2016, Wassall was appointed head coach until the end of the season. He returned to his post of academy director on 27 May 2016, when Nigel Pearson signed a three-year contract to manage Derby County.

Wassall left his role at Derby on 24 May 2023 after 14 years where in his role he oversaw the clubs progressing to a Category 1 Academy under the EPPP with 45 players graduating to appear in first team action, with these players sum total of appearances for the senior team being over 1,200+.

Managerial statistics

TeamFromToRecord Derby County (caretaker) 29 September 20132 October 2013 Derby County (interim head coach) 8 February 201627 May 2016 Total