Darren Dods

Darren Dods (born 7 June 1975) is a professional Football (soccer) currently playing as a Defender (football) for Scottish Premier League side Dundee United.

Career

Edinburgh-born Dods began his professional career with hometown club Hibernian F.C. in 1992, making over seventy first team appearances in a six-year spell. In 1998, Dods moved to St. Johnstone F.C. where his performances earned him a four-year contract extension in December 2000. Upon his contract expiring in summer 2004, Dods signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, signing a new two-year contract before the season was out. where he skippering the side for much of the 2005-06 in Scottish football season and winning the Caley Thistle fans' Player of the Year award.

In March 2006, shortly after Craig Brewster left Inverness to become Dundee United manager, Dods was rumoured to be a target for the Tayside club, although he still had over a year left on his contract. In June 2006, it was reported that Dods had failed to agree a new contract, with Brewster - who had failed in a bid to sign Inverness players Ian Black and David Proctor - still heavily linked with the player. At the start of the 2006-07 in Scottish football, Dods had a transfer request rejected by Inverness manager Charlie Christie with Inverness subsequently rejecting bids from United of £10,000 and then £35,000 for the player.

On 13 January 2007, it was announced Dods had signed a pre-contract agreement to join Dundee United F.C. in June 2007, despite Craig Brewster having left the United manager position three months earlier. New manager Craig Levein said he was "pleased" regarding Dods' two-year deal. On 22nd June 2007, Dods formally joined the club, signing a two-year contract with Dundee United. In Dods' ninth game in October 2007, he scored his first goal for the club, heading the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Motherwell F.C.. At the beginning of September 2008, Dods was three matches away from his 400th competitive appearance.

In November 2007, Dods won a cap for the Scotland national B football team.