Darren Fletcher was born on 1 February 1984 in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. He joined Manchester United's academy at the age of eleven and worked his way through the youth ranks before signing a professional contract in February 2001. His early seasons at Old Trafford were disrupted by injuries, but he established himself as a reliable central midfielder, earning a starting place in the 2004 FA Cup Final against Millwall.
A disciplined, box-to-box midfielder, Fletcher was known for his work rate, positional sense, and ability to break up opposition play in central areas. Among his most notable contributions was scoring the only goal in a November 2005 victory over Chelsea, ending the Blues' 40-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. He went on to win five Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup with United, among other honours.
His career was interrupted in late 2011 when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, forcing a lengthy absence. He eventually departed United in February 2015 to join West Bromwich Albion, where he served as captain, before later moving to Stoke City.
As a Scottish international, Fletcher was a regular starter, captaining Scotland from August 2009 after Barry Ferguson's international ban. He scored his first international goal against Lithuania, a result that secured Scotland's place in the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying play-offs.
Fletcher transitioned into coaching after retiring, rejoining Manchester United's setup. He was appointed manager of United's Under-18 side in June 2025 before stepping up to take interim charge of the first team in January 2026.