Darren James Patterson (born 15 October 1969) is a Northern Irish football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he was a defender, notably playing in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and in the Scottish Premier League for Dundee United. Most of his appearances however came in the Football League with spells at Wigan Athletic and Luton Town. He also played professionally for Preston North End, York City and Oxford United. He was capped by Northern Ireland on 17 occasions, scoring one goal. Following retirement from playing, he switched to coaching and rejoined Oxford United where after a caretaker spell in charge he had two separate stints as first team manager. He later joined the coaching staff at Bristol Rovers where he also had a spell as the clubs interim first team manager. In 2011, he became Rotherham United's assistant manager again having a brief spell in temporary charge. Club career Patterson began his playing career with West Bromwich Albion around the time of their relegation from the First Division in 1986, but failed to make a first-team appearance and was signed by Bryan Hamilton for Wigan Athletic early in the 1989–90 season. Patterson proved a success in defence for Wigan, making 57 Third Division appearances and scored five goals before being transferred to Crystal Palace at the end of the 1991–92 season. Patterson enjoyed a longer spell at Palace and played for the club in the FA Premier League before joining Luton Town in a £230,000 deal in August 1995. During his time at Selhurst Park, he had seen Palace relegated from the inaugural Premier League in 1992–93, promoted back as Division One champions in 1993–94, and relegated back in 1994–95 at the end of a dramatic season in which Palace also reached the semi-finals of both major domestic cup competitions. He was sent off in the FA Cup semi-final for fighting with Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane. He made 66 appearances for Luton (and also had a loan spell at Preston North End) before leaving on a Bosman ruling free transfer in the Summer of 1998 to join Dundee United. At Kenilworth Road he endured the disappointment of relegation from Division One in his first season and playoff defeat in Division Two during his second. Whilst at Dundee United he scored once; his goal coming against Clydebank during United's run to the semi-finals of the 1998–99