Darnell King

Darnell King (born September 23, 1990) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship.

Darnell King

King playing for Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Darnell King
Date of birth	(1990-09-23) September 23, 1990
Place of birth	Tampa, Florida, United States
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position(s)	Winger, Full back
Club information
Current team	Phoenix Rising
Number	2
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Florida Atlantic Owls	62	(17)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(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–	Phoenix Rising	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 23, 2019

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]

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of December 4, 2018

Club	Season	League			Cup			Playoffs			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Fort Lauderdale Strikers	2012	22	1	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	24	1	2
	2013	26	3	1	2	0	1	—	—	—	28	3	2
	2014	21	2	4	1	0	0	—	—	—	22	2	4
Tampa Bay Rowdies	2015	27	1	2	1	0	0	—	—	—	28	1	2
	2016	30	0	2	2	0	0	—	—	—	32	0	2
	2017	24	0	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	27	0	1
San Antonio FC	2018	32	2	5	3	1	0	—	—	—	35	3	5
Nashville SC	2019	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	0	0	0
Career total		182	9	17	11	1	1	3	0	0	196	10	18

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. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
6. "NASHVILLE SC ADDS ALL-LEAGUE DEFENDER DARNELL KING". NashvilleSC.com. Nashville SC. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
7. "Darnell King Joins Phoenix Rising For 2020 Season". phxrisingfc.com. Phoenix Rising Communications. Retrieved December 4, 2018.

External links

• Tampa Bay Rowdies bio