Former Bradford City defender Darren Moore has been appointed as the head coach of the England Under-20s national team. The 52-year-old, who has been out of work since departing Port Vale in December 2025, will lead the Young Lions in the forthcoming U20 Euro Elite League.
Moore's first games in charge will be against Italy, France and Germany. He expressed his pride at the new role this week. "I have huge pride in being appointed as a head coach for England and the honour of representing the country," Moore said. He added, "I’m excited to work with some of the best young talent in English football, helping players continue their development and to fulfil their potential."
Darren Moore is fondly remembered at Valley Parade for his part in the club's historic promotion to the Premier League in 1999. The powerful centre-back made 70 appearances for Bradford City across three seasons, forming a key part of the squad that reached the top flight. His time with the Bantams established him as a firm fan favourite before he moved on to other challenges in a long playing and managerial career.
This appointment marks a significant step for Moore, who has managed clubs like Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town. After a period out of the game following his exit from Port Vale last December, the England U20s role represents a prestigious return to football. It places him at the heart of the national team setup, tasked with developing the next generation of English talent through competitive elite fixtures.
While Moore start his international journey, his former club is making a strong start to the new League One season. As of this week, Bradford City sit 4th in the table with 9 points from their opening five matches. Their record shows three wins and two losses, with a recent form guide of WLLWW. The team has scored 5 goals and conceded 4, giving them a +1 goal difference. They are currently three points behind the early leaders, Sheffield Wednesday, setting up an intriguing title race. Fans can follow the team's progress in the standings.
The Bantams' immediate focus shifts to their next league fixture, an away trip to face Notts County on September 12th. County are currently 12th in the table, making it an important match for City to maintain their position near the top. The full schedule of upcoming games is available on our fixtures page. With the squad showing promising early form, supporters will be keen to see if they can close the gap at the summit. The current player roster contributing to this positive start can be viewed in the squad section.
