Darren McCormack

{{Infobox football biography

| image =

| fullname =

| height =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|9|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 2001–2007

| youthclubs1 = Hibernian

| years1 = 2007–2010

| caps1 = 24

| goals1 = 0

| clubs1 = Hibernian

| years2 = 2010–2011

| caps2 = 23

| goals2 = 0

| clubs2 = Ross County

| years3 = 2012–2013

| clubs3 = East Fife

| caps3 = 31

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2013–2014

| clubs4 = Airdrieonians

| caps4 = 34

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2014–2017

| clubs5 = Brechin City

| caps5 = 69

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2021–2023

| clubs6 = Tranent Juniors

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| nationalyears1 = 2008

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21[http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=823&playerID=31097&squadID=5 Darren McCormack – U21 Squad], Scottish Football Association.

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 21:20, 30 May 2017 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 12 November 2010

}}

Darren McCormack (born 29 September 1988) is a Scottish professional footballer who used to play as a defender for Tranent Juniors now a free agent.

McCormack, a defender, started his career with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, but was released at the end of the 2009–10 season. McCormack then signed for Ross County, but he suffered a broken leg and was again released. He signed for East Fife in January 2012 and Airdrieonians in July 2013, then Brechin City in June 2014. He was also banned from the sport in 2017 following attempted murder and previous convictions until he signed for Tranent Juniors in July 2021. McCormack has also represented the Scotland national under-21 football team.

Playing career

Celtic made an approach to sign McCormack in 2007, but he signed a five-year deal to stay with Hibs. He made his league debut for Hibs in a 4–1 win over Kilmarnock in September 2007. McCormack was selected for the Scotland under–21 squad for the match against Norway in May 2008.[https://archive.today/20130505062323/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/match_details.cfm?matchid=75354 Scotland National Teams Match Details], Scottish Football Association. He was also selected for the match against Lithuania in August 2008, but did not play.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7569282.stm Lithuania U21 0–3 Scotland U21], BBC Sport, 20 August 2008.

McCormack made his first first-team appearance for Hibs in over a year in a 2–0 win against St Mirren during January 2009, replacing the suspended David van Zanten at right back. His appearances were limited during the 2009–10 season, making only six first team appearances as of February 2010. He was sent off during the last of those appearances, an Edinburgh derby match. McCormack's contract was not renewed by Hibs at the end of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20100514/player-update_2262950_2052770 |title=Player update |work=hibernianfc.co.uk|publisher=Hibernian F.C. |date=14 May 2010}}

After his release by Hibs at the end of the 2009–10 season, McCormack signed for Scottish First Division club Ross County.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/ross_county/8753539.stm|title=Ross County sign defender Darren McCormack|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=22 June 2010}} He suffered a broken leg and was released by Ross County in September 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/european/mccormack_back_in_game_at_bayview_1_2034186|title=McCormack back in game at Bayview |work=The Scotsman|publisher=Johnston Press|date=3 January 2012|accessdate=4 January 2012}}

McCormack signed for Scottish Second Division club East Fife in January 2012.{{cite web | url=http://eastfifefc.info/component/content/article/1-latest-news/513-darren-mccormack-joins-east-fife | title=Darren McCormack joins East Fife | publisher=East Fife F.C. | date=5 January 2012 | accessdate=5 January 2012}} He made his debut on 2 January, in a 4–0 defeat against Cowdenbeath.{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16375091.stm | title=Cowdenbeath 4–0 East Fife | work=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | date=2 January 2012 | accessdate=5 January 2012}}

McCormack signed for Airdrieonians in July 2013,{{cite news|url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/mccormack-joins-airdrie/|title=McCormack joins Airdrie|publisher=SPFL|date=17 July 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233145/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/mccormack-joins-airdrie/|archivedate=3 March 2016}} leaving the club in June 2014 to sign for Brechin City. After three seasons with Brechin, McCormack was released by the club on 30 May 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.brechincity.com/bcfc/servlet/BCFCFrontControllerServlet?action=News&page_id=1874&category=2 |title=Squad update |publisher=Brechin City FC |date=30 May 2017 |accessdate=30 May 2017}} On 23 October 2017, McCormack was banned from competitive football until 7 April 2021 due to him failing an "in-competition test" in April 2017, when he was registered with Brechin.{{cite news|title=Darren McCormack: Scottish footballer banned until 2021 by UK Anti-Doping|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41726560|accessdate=23 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|date=23 October 2017}} McCormack had tested positive for use of metabolites of metandienone (epimetendiol, epitmetandienone and hydroxymetandienone).

Personal life

McCormack was arrested for an assault on Hearts striker Calum Elliot on 22 March 2009, near an Edinburgh nightclub.{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090323/wl_uk_afp/fblscoprhibsheartsassault;_ylt=Ap0hVhKN3S41FN07KBfakNF2yLQF |title=Hibs Player Charged With Assault |work=Yahoo Sports|date=23 March 2009}} When the case came to Edinburgh Sheriff Court, McCormack pleaded guilty to an assault charge, and was fined £1000.{{cite news |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Hibs-defender-Darren-McCormack-fined.5215547.jp |title=Hibs defender Darren McCormack fined for punching Hearts rival Calum Elliot |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=29 April 2009}} The court was told that McCormack had punched Elliot in the face after Elliot had "made a deliberately antagonising remark to him about their respective football careers". McCormack, who sent an apology to Elliot via his agent, was also fined £1200 (two weeks' wages) by Hibernian.

During February 2010, McCormack was arrested by police on Leith Walk and charged with the offences of driving without insurance and driving without a licence.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8504361.stm |title=Hibernian's Darren McCormack faces driving charge |work=BBC Sport |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin |date=8 February 2010}} He was subsequently banned from driving for 12 months and fined £500.{{cite news |url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/164186-ban-for-drink-driving-hibs-star/ |title=Ban for drink driving Hibs star |publisher=STV |date=17 March 2010 |accessdate=17 March 2010}}

McCormack was charged with attempted murder in December 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/former-hibs-player-darren-mccormack-charged-with-attempted-murder-1-4655576 |title=Former Hibs player Darren McCormack charged with attempted murder |first=Ian |last=Swanson |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=8 January 2018 |accessdate=8 January 2018}}