Darnell King

Last updated

Darnell King
CINvTB 2017-04-19 - Darnell King (34068238262) (cropped).jpg
King playing for Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2017
Personal information
Full name Darnell King
Date of birth (1990-09-23) September 23, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Tampa, Florida, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Winger, Full back
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2011 Florida Atlantic Owls 62 (17)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2010 Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy 3 (0)
2012–2014 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 75 (6)
2015–2017 Tampa Bay Rowdies 81 (1)
2018 San Antonio FC 32 (2)
2019 Nashville SC 21 (0)
2020–2023 Phoenix Rising 97 (4)
2025- Phoenix Rising 1 (0)
Managerial career
2024– Phoenix Rising (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 4, 2024

Darnell King (born September 23, 1990) is an American former professional soccer player and current assistant coach of Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship.

Contents

Career

King played in forward for Tampa's Gaither High School, setting a school record with 71 points in a season. In 2008, his senior year, King was named to the All-Hillsborough County team.

From 2008 to 2011, King played as a forward for the Florida Atlantic Owls. King was the Owls' leading scorer during his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.

King participated in the 2012 NASL Combine where he was noticed by Fort Lauderdale Strikers' coaching staff. He was invited to preseason with the Strikers, where he impressed enough to earn his first professional contract. On March 27, 2012, the Strikers announced that King had signed professional terms with the club. [1]

King made his professional debut with the Strikers as a second-half sub against FC Edmonton on April 7, 2012, in the first game of the 2012 NASL season. He played 15 minutes after replacing Leopoldo Morales in the 75th minute. [2] On July 2, King started and played 90 minutes in an unfamiliar right back position, and took the throw-in that lead to the opening goal. He started at right back in the Strikers' next match against the Carolina RailHawks, and scored his first goal as a professional in the 31st minute of the 3–3 draw. [3] King ended up primarily playing right back for the Strikers and was named to the 2014 NASL Best XI as a defender.

On December 22, 2014, King returned to Tampa Bay by signing with the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies [4]

On February 6, 2018, King made the move to United Soccer League side San Antonio FC. [5] King earned a spot on the All-League team at the end of 2018.

King signed with Nashville SC on December 4, 2018, rejoining former Rowdies teammate Matt Pickens. [6] He then signed with Phoenix Rising FC on December 18, 2019. [7]

Following a 2023 USL Championship season that saw Phoenix win the league, King announced his retirement on January 4, 2024. He transitioned to a coaching role with Phoenix Rising. [8]

Ahead of Phoenix Rising’s week 4 clash of the 2025 USL Championship season against Monterey Bay, nine players were out with injuries. King was called up to the squad, as he would then come off the bench in the 69th minute after Phoenix were down to nine men. The match ended in a 3-1 loss for Phoenix.

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of December 4, 2018

ClubSeasonLeagueCupPlayoffsTotal
AppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssists
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2012 22121001002412
2013 26312012832
2014 21241002224
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2015 27121002812
2016 30022003202
2017 24011002002701
San Antonio FC 2018 32253103535
Nashville SC 2019 000000000
Career total18291711113001961018

References

  1. "Oops! Sorry, something went wrong | Fort Lauderdale Strikers". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  2. "News | Fort Lauderdale Strikers". Archived from the original on April 10, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  3. "Match Recap | North American Soccer League". Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  4. "Rowdies NASL: Rowdies Sign Tampa Bay Native Darnell King". Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  5. "King Makes Move to San Antonio". Uslsoccer.com. February 6, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  6. "NASHVILLE SC ADDS ALL-LEAGUE DEFENDER DARNELL KING". NashvilleSC.com. Nashville SC. Retrieved December 4, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. "Darnell King Joins Phoenix Rising For 2020 Season". phxrisingfc.com. Phoenix Rising Communications. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  8. Minnick, J. "Defender Darnell King to Transition into a Coaching Role with Phoenix Rising FC". PHXRisingFC.com. Phoenix Rising . Retrieved January 4, 2024.