Log In

Don't have an account? Sign up now

Forgot Password?

Sign Up

Password will be generated and sent to your email address.

Carl Darlington: Head of Academy Coaching at Everton FC

Carl Darlington has been unveiled as the new Head of Academy Coaching at English Premiership club Everton. The Football Careers client joins the Toffees after 17 years as a mainstay with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) where he has been Head of Coach Education since 2010.

Now UEFA Pro Licence holder and Assistant Pro Licence tutor Darlington will be a key figure within an admired coaching and player development programme in an Academy that has become renowned for producing local talents like Wayne Rooney in the past and current first team star Anthony Gordon.

Carl, though, could not take up his new challenge without reflecting on the pride he felt playing his role in his country’s resurgence as a footballing power over the last two decades.

He said: “I have been so fortunate to be a part of the FAW for the past 17 years. As a proud Welshman it is with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to take on a new challenge.

“During my 17 years I’ve been very fortunate to work with amazing people who have helped shape Welsh football into what it is today.”

Darlington’s telling influence on the shape of coach education in his homeland cannot be ignored. Wales has become a go-to destination in this sphere and the fact that the likes of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, Patrick Vieira, Nottingham Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper, Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and Middlesbrough’s Chris Wilder chose to do the Pro Licence there speaks volumes.

Carl stressed: “I’m privileged and honoured to have worked in two main areas, player development and coach education.

“Coach Education was built on strong foundations and has grown from strength to strength. We aspire to be a world class coaching nation and I feel we have moved closer to our destination.

“I was always told: ‘Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.’ That was the FAW.”

Now Carl has an exciting new challenge at a club who have gone through an Academy overhaul this summer. Darlington will work together with the Academy Coaches and the club’s Coach Educator to continue providing a conveyor belt of talent who dream of making Frank Lampard’s first team.

Part of the Goodison Park restructure on the youth side saw Academy Director Gareth Prosser appointed this summer. Everton legend Leighton Baines was named Under-18s Head Coach and Carl’s fellow Football Careers client James Vaughan – a youth prodigy with the Toffees as a player – was appointed Loans Pathways Manager.

Carl also brings the experience of a successful career in club football to the table having occupied key roles at Wrexham and The New Saints when he was working with the FAW.

New Academy Director Prosser said: “We are delighted to appoint Carl, a hugely-respected coach who has proven his expertise over a long period of time.

“He was integral to helping Wales become a world-class coaching nation and is a leader in player development and coach education. Carl is another key appointment for our Academy as we place increased emphasis on the personal and player development as the key focus throughout Everton’s youth operation.”

Keep up to date with the latest news
from Football Careers

including recent placements, in-depth interviews with our clients, career advice segments, guest columns, and more. Our members can access exclusive content centred around working in the world of football, created by the people who know it best.

    Since utilising my CV I have had interviews at a number of English Premier League and SPFL clubs before accepting a role in the USA. It is definitely a service which I will continue to use.

    Graeme Henderson

    I can’t thank Football Careers enough for the professional CV they created for me: the attention to detail is outstanding and the design is eye-catching. I really appreciate all of the support and guidance their team has given me over the years.

    Robbie Fowler

    The team members at Football Careers are very approachable and they have excellent knowledge of the football industry. I received a highly professional service from them and I now have a detailed, eye-catching CV that any employer would be attracted to.

    Kevin Nicholson

    We couldn’t be more happy with the success of our banner advert. Over a sustained period, the ad has garnered over 2,500 click-throughs which has provided us with a continuous stream of hot leads and sales. I would recommend to anyone looking increase awareness for their business or generate tangible leads for the sale of their products or services.

    John Viola: Director, 451 Football Consultancy

    Football Careers helped me successfully apply for my first full-time coaching job. They provide a fantastic, professional service with a great final product. The team are a pleasure to deal with and I couldn’t be happier with the service provided.

    Luke Chadwick

    Working with Football Careers has opened up new opportunities for me. I am delighted with the quality of their service and the results that I received. The work produced by the team has been consistently excellent and I strongly recommend their services to any ambitious coaches.

    Jose Gomez

    Football Careers worked tirelessly to create a top-quality CV and accompanying philosophy document that perfectly capture my ideas on how to run a football club. They have been a joy to work with from the very beginning and their outstanding final products have already proven to be a very useful career tool.

    Derek Adams

    Football Careers’ membership features have been a great help to me over the years. The job board is fantastic. It’s quick and easy to use, and there is a wide range of jobs available that are based all over the world. Being an Elite Hosted member gives me unlimited access to the job board, so I can apply for as many roles as I like.

    Jordan Tait

    I would highly recommend Football Careers. Following a consultation, I was provided with a new professional CV and LinkedIn profile as well as very useful interview coaching. Given the highly competitive job market in the sports industry, the support they offer is invaluable.

    Barry Horgan

    Football Careers knew every detail about the role I was interested in and gave me comprehensive advice on how to prepare for a successful interview. The team was attentive and took time to answer all my questions. The knowledge they’ve shared with me has helped me secure a new role and it will be invaluable in my future career.

    Selmen Sassi

    I would like to thank Football Careers for their professional preparation of my CV and PowerPoint presentation. Without their input, I wouldn’t have found the recent job opportunities that have come my way. I would highly recommend Football Careers to anyone involved in football.

    Frank Sinclair

    Football Careers puts our job adverts in front of a huge network of football professionals through their job board, email alerts, and social media. The calibre of applicants I have received through Football Careers is second to none.

    Andy Thomson

    I highly recommend becoming a member of Football Careers. You’ll receive the benefits and opportunities you seek in football. The services offer good value for money and above all, give you the access and tools you need to apply for high-level positions globally.

    Niall Connolly

    Become A Member

    Create an account and access a limited number of the latest sports vacancies. Apply for up to five directly from your profile.

    Or, become a full member and gain additional benefits including access to all listings on the Job Board, your own candidate page and access to all news articles and expert career advice for a small monthly fee.

    contact