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Darren Mattocks facts for kids

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Darren Mattocks
Darren Mattocks (cropped).jpg
Mattocks with Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves in 2012
Personal information
Full name Darren Dimitri Mattocks
Date of birth (1990-09-02) 2 September 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Portmore, Jamaica
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Akron Zips 47 (39)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 93 (19)
2016–2017 Portland Timbers 43 (5)
2018 D.C. United 25 (10)
2019 FC Cincinnati 21 (3)
2021 Al-Merrikh 5 (0)
2021 Phoenix Rising 10 (5)
International career
2012–2019 Jamaica 50 (18)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Jamaica
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2015 United States–Canada Team
Runner-up 2017 United States Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:27, 9 November 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:37, 23 February 2021 (UTC)

Darren Dimitri Mattocks (born 2 September 1990) is a talented Jamaican footballer. He plays as a forward, which means he's usually trying to score goals for his team. He has played for several clubs, including Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Phoenix Rising FC. Darren also proudly represented the Jamaica national football team.

Darren Mattocks' Football Journey

College Football Days

Darren Mattocks played college football for the University of Akron. He was a fantastic player during his two years there. He appeared in 47 games and scored an impressive 39 goals. Because of his great skills, he was recognized as one of the best young players in college football.

Starting His Professional Career

Joining Vancouver Whitecaps FC

In 2012, Darren was chosen by Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the second pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. This was a big step in his career! He made his first appearance for the Whitecaps against the Montreal Impact.

Soon after, he had a small accident at home and missed some games. But he came back strong! In May 2012, he scored his first goal for the Whitecaps. He scored his first MLS goal later that month. Darren scored six goals in his first nine MLS games in 2012. He even scored the Whitecaps' first-ever playoff goal! He won the team's Golden Boot award that year for scoring the most goals.

Playing for Portland Timbers

In March 2016, Darren moved to the Portland Timbers. He played for them for two seasons, continuing to show his skills as a forward.

Time with D.C. United

Darren joined D.C. United in December 2017. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first MLS goal for the team in March 2018. During his time with D.C. United, he played in 25 games and scored 10 goals.

Moving to FC Cincinnati

In December 2018, Darren was picked by FC Cincinnati in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft. He played for them for a season.

Playing in Sudan and the USL

After a short break from club football, Darren joined Sudan Premier League team Al-Merrikh in February 2021. Later that year, in August 2021, he returned to the United States. He signed with Phoenix Rising FC, a team in the USL Championship.

Playing for Jamaica

Darren Mattocks has also had a great career playing for his home country, the Jamaica national football team. He made his first international appearance in 2012.

He was a key player when Jamaica won the 2014 Caribbean Cup. He scored three goals in that tournament, making him one of the top scorers.

In 2015, Darren played in two major tournaments for Jamaica: the Copa América and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the Gold Cup, he scored an important goal against the United States in the semi-finals. This helped Jamaica reach their first-ever Gold Cup final! He also scored in the final match against Mexico.

He continued to score for Jamaica in various matches, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His last international goal was in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Personal Life

Darren Mattocks received his U.S. green card in May 2014. This meant he was considered a local player for MLS teams.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Darren Mattocks para niños

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