Darren Randolph

At 36 years old, Darren Randolph has this physical status:

Darren Edward Randolph (born 12 May 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who competes for the Republic of Ireland's national team and Middlesbrough.

He has served for the Republic of Ireland's U21 team.

Randolph has also represented Ireland at basketball, and has worked in Ardmore Rovers and Premier League Charlton Athletic. Randolph turned professional in 2004 with Charlton Athletic.

He spent time on loan at Welling United, Accrington Stanley, and Gillingham before making his Charlton debut in the last game of the 2006–07 season.

Despite the club's relegation from the Premier League, he was unable to secure a stable starting position and had two loan spells during 2008, both in Bury and Hereford United.

He played for Charlton in six years before moving to Motherwell, Scotland's Premier League team.

He played for Motherwell for three years and then moved to England, where he played only one Championship match in two seasons.

In 2015, he signed for West Ham United and Middlesbrough two years later, and Middlesbrough followed Middlesbrough. Randolph made ten appearances for the Republic of Ireland under the age of 21 as a result of his participation in the Republic of Ireland's under-21 team in 2006, as well as a single appearance for the Republic of Ireland's B team.

In September 2012, he made his complete international debut for the Republic of Ireland in a 4–1 victory over Oman.

At UEFA Euro 2016, he represented the country.

Personal life

Ed Randolph's father was a basketball player for UCD Marian and was one of the first American imports to the Irish Basketball League. Anne Randolph (née Walsh), his mother, is a folk singer from Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. He is a former student of St. Cronan's Boys National School and Presentation College, Bray, and is a former student. He had a long-term friendship with Rochelle Wiseman of the girl group The Saturdays.

Randolph and singer Alexandra Burke began dating in 2021, and their first child was born in July 2022.

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Club career

Randolph was born in Bray and played school football with Ardmore Rovers. Charlton Athletic joined him in the summer of 2003 due to their links with the Irish and English clubs. Randolph was in the Hall of Fame when leaving Ardmore Rovers.

Randolph spent a month on loan at Welling United in 2004; he appeared in four league games and once in the FA Cup. He served on loan at Accrington Stanley in the Conference National for the 2005-06 season, and at the end of the season, he has signed a contract extension to his Charlton deal until 2009. On a month's loan, he joined League One Gillingham in August 2006.

Randolph made his first-team debut for Charlton's recently promoted Charlton in their final match of the 2006-07 Premier League season, away against Liverpool. Randolph's replacing loanee Scott Carson, who was ineligible to play against his parent club, did well, restricting Liverpool to two goals, one of which was a penalty kick in the 90th minute for a 2–2 draw. He was second-choice in 2007–08, and he joined Bury of League Two on loan in February 2008. Randolph was called by Charlton to cover for Weaver, who was suspended in a match against Plymouth Argyle after playing 14 times. Charlton's next match, at home to Southampton, was kicked off by him and contributed to a farcical own goal before he leapt it into the net by teammate Paddy McCarthy.

Randolph joined Hereford United on a season-long loan in July 2008. He appeared in 14 of the season's first 17 games, including an "outstanding" victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, where he conceded only once from Leeds' 19 shots on target.

Randolph had declined to participate in an FA Cup match against Dagenham & Redbridge on November 11, 2008, amid rumors that another goalkeeper would be joining Hereford. He was fined two weeks' wages, but it was revealed that he would not return to play for Hereford United again. Goalkeeper Matt Murray joined Hereford on a month-long loan contract with Wolverham Wanderers. Graham Turner said in his Hereford Times column that it was something he had never seen before in nearly 30 years of administration, it was not what he expected from a professional player, and if he had been a contracted player, his deal would have been ended forthwith. Randolph expressed his dissatisfaction with Turner's words in a tweet and was given encouragement by Charlton boss Alan Pardew. Randolph made no more appearances for Hereford before returning to Charlton in January 2009.

Randolph lost four goals in a Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday in his second match since January 17. This was supposed to be his last game of the season. Nonetheless, he was offered and eventually signed a one-year deal ahead of the 2009–10 season. In the FA Cup against Northwich Victoria, he was a second choice this time behind Rob Elliot, and made his first appearance of the season in November. Despite "a string of spectacular first half saves," the Conference North team won 1–0 to take what the local newspaper called the club's "most humiliating loss in the club's 104-year history." Randolph recovered his starting position in March 2010 after Elliot was hurt and kept it for the remainder of the season, including the play-offs, in which Charlton lost on penalties to Swindon Town in the semi-finals.

Despite Charlton's offering Randolph a new deal, he turned to Scottish Premier League club Motherwell on a free transfer on July 1, 2010. Fir Park's manager has three years as a manager. Randolph won by 1–0 over Icelandic side Breiablik on his first appearance in the Europa League's second qualifying round. In the play-off round, the club was kicked out by Danish club OB; Motherwell screamed at UEFA over OB supporters throwing cigarette lighters at Randolph during the first leg. Randolph earned his first-choice goalkeeper, smashing John Ruddy's club record of 15 clean sheets against Celtic on February 27, 2011 in a 2–0 victory over Celtic. He aided Motherwell in qualifying for the 2011 Scottish Cup Final, but they lost 3–0 to Celtic, but he said afterwards that Motherwell had been unlucky.

Randolph released four clean sheets in the 2011-12 SPL season, and the final result was as an ever-presenter. In a 5–1 victory over St Johnstone on 28 April 28, 2012, he helped Henrik Ojamaa's second goal of the match. He was the only Motherwell player to be selected in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.

Since the 2011–12 runners-up Rangers were ineligible for UEFA competitions, they were not eligible for UEFA tournaments, so Motherwell's third-place finish earned the club entry into the Champions League for the first time. Randolph made his Champions League debut against Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round. Motherwell beat the aggregate 3–0 to get out of the tournament, but they have reached the Europa League play-off round. Randolph played in both legs against Levante, but his team was then disqualified.

Randolph caught Hearts' Callum Paterson's head with his leg as he attempted for a high ball on Saturday, causing Hearts' manager John McGlynn to refer to Randolph as a "lucky guy." Randolph was charged with "violent conduct" after kicking an opposing player" and receiving a two-match suspension, but Motherwell appealed, but the ban was not enforced. Randolph was named in the 2012–13 PFA Scotland Team of the Year, alongside colleagues Shaun Hutchinson, Nicky Law, and Michael Higdon. Motherwell finished in second place behind Celtic in second place last year, so they are also registered for Europe for the second year in a row.

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall said in mid-April that Randolph's contract would come to an end at the end of the season. Randolph will be leaving, and four days later, English Championship team Birmingham City announced Randolph will join them on a free transfer after his Motherwell contract came to an end. McCall confirmed it on May 10, 2013. On July 1, he started a two-year contract. Colin Doyle made his debut in a 1–0 loss at home to Watford on August 3rd, and stayed ever-present in Championship matches throughout the season, though he did not participate in any Birmingham's cup ties.

The unbroken run continued into the next season, but Randolph was sent off late in the home loss to Bolton Wanderers on October 18, 2014, so he was suspended for the next match. In the FA Cup fourth-round loss to West Bromwich Albion, he was ever-present in league games for the remainder of the season, as well as his first cup appearance for the club. Gary Rowett said that if Randolph's services had been retained in the January transfer window, he would not have barred him from leaving Birmingham, but that he wanted to keep him there. In May, the club announced that he had turned down a contract extension and would leave as a free agent under Bosman's ruling at the end of his current deal.

Randolph will join the club on July 1st, when his deal with Birmingham came to an end, according to West Ham United's May 30th. In a Europa League qualifying match, he made his debut on July 2nd in a 3–0 triumph over Lusitanos. Randolph was in his league debut for West Ham in a 4–3 loss to AFC Bournemouth on August 22, 2015. In a 3–0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, the West Ham's first league victory at Anfield since 1963, he stayed in goal and kept a clean sheet. Randolph was involved in West Ham's last three matches of the 2015-2016 season, with their final match at Boleyn Ground winning by 3–2 over Manchester United. He appeared in 15 games across all sports this season. Randolph signed a new, four-year contract with West Ham in July 2016. Randolph became West Ham's regular goalkeeper following a goalkeeping mistake by first choice goalkeeper Adrián in a match against Stoke City in November 2016.

Randolph agreed to a four-year deal with Middlesbrough in the Championship, for a reported transfer fee of £5 million. In a 2–1 friendly victory over FC Augsburg on July 29, the player made his first appearance for the club on July 29th. Following his arrival, he was reunited with ex West Ham United colleague Ashley Fletcher, who joined Middlesbrough on July 28. Randolph will wear the number 25 shirt from 2017 to 2018. Randolph made his Middlesbrough debut on August 5, 2017, defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0. He kept his first clean sheet the following week after his team beat division newcomers Sheffield United 1–0 at the Riverside Stadium. In their upcoming match, he kept a second clean sheet, defeating Burton Albion 2–0 at home.

He was named to the 2018-19 Championship Team of the Season in March 2019.

Randolph was returning to West Ham on January 15, 2020, following an agreement with Middlesbrough. The transfer fee was estimated at £4 million.

International career

Randolph has represented the Republic of Ireland at U15, U17, U18, U19, B, and senior levels. He was called up to the Republic of Ireland's senior squad for the first time in March 2011, against Macedonia. In May, he was called up again for a match against Northern Ireland and Scotland in the Nations Cup, but he did not appear.

Randolph made his international debut in a friendly against Oman on September 11, 2012, winning by a score of 4–1. On June 12, 2013, his second Republic of Ireland appearance was against Spain as a substitute; he made a "brilliant fingertip save" from Santi Cazorla before losing a late penalty as Spain defeated Spain 2–0. Randolph replaced Shay Given in the 44th minute against Germany in a 2016 European Championship qualifying match, and gave Shane Long's winner in the 70th minute a match won 1–0 by the Republic of Ireland. Randolph appeared in every match for the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016, against Sweden, Belgium, and Italy before being defeated by France.

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