Some coaching careers go down a familiar well-trodden path. For others, the journey takes in more twists, turns and destinations than they would have dared to dream.
From Manchester Metropolitan University to Hong Kong, working in five different countries and three separate continents along the way, Darren Arnott’s pathway is a case in point.
Crafting a remarkable and unique coaching portfolio, before he’s even turned 40, there are not many who can boast such a rich diversity of experiences.
Initially thriving in community and grassroots work, before taking on academy and senior football – with a spot of coach educator work thrown in for good measure – Arnott’s latest adventure has taken him to Asia, where he is currently Head Coach of the Hong Kong Under-20 and Under-23 national teams.
An all-encompassing role sees the likeable 39-year-old also lead their Professional Development Phase and assist with the senior national team.
It is quite the CV.
“I’ve always sought out experiences that test what I’m missing. My movement between roles has only ever been about finding those paths I haven’t walked yet,” says Arnott modestly.
“With no professional playing background, I can’t just walk into buildings with that level of authority. So, I always ask myself, what do I need to do to be world-class? What will improve me?
“Leaving a Category One academy at Leeds United, to come to Hong Kong where the football landscape is very different, was all about the challenge.
“I went from coaching daily, which is my strength, to coaching far less, and that was a deliberate choice. I knew I could develop a team in eight months, but could I do it in eight days? Or even eight hours?
“Now, when I have a 12-minute meeting I know it must be perfect. Every second matters. That’s the fresh type of test I wanted.”
At the outset Arnott wondered if switching to international football might provide him with a little more downtime, but that preconception quickly proved misplaced.
After recently working on AFC Asian Cup qualifiers with the senior team, including a contest against Singapore that attracted a sold-out 50,000 crowd, the Scarborough-born coach has also been planning a training camp in China for 50 players and 15 staff across the Under-20 and Under-23 age groups.
Analysis and scouting are a key part of his programme, and he also works closely with local coaches and staff across different departments, with the aim of developing higher standards across the board.
Life is busy, but you can tell Arnott is absolutely revelling in all that his current position entails…
Recalling a recent escapade, he says, “Not long ago we went to China for what was supposed to be a behind-closed-doors friendly with the Under-20s. It was no big deal, so we didn’t overload the squad, adding a few developmental players. We even gave some of the staff new responsibilities.
“On the day of the game the translator said we’d need to leave earlier because traffic would be bad. I asked, ‘Rush hour?’ He said, ‘No, it’s sold out.’ I said, ‘Sold out? We were told it was behind closed doors.’ He replied, ‘No, 30,000 tickets have been sold.’
“When we arrived, the stadium was pitch black and then 30,000 phones lit up, with 15,000 drones in the sky, and fireworks going off everywhere. The drone show was from Beijing’s Olympic team. It was incredible!
“We won 2–1, lifted a big trophy, and there were balloons everywhere. It was all so surreal.
“But standing in the technical area during the game, I thought… You don’t get this experience if you stay home.
“For me, that was the final test,” he continues. “Could I lead people well, under pressure? Standing in front of 30,000 fans that day, I felt completely comfortable, like I belonged there. Not in an egotistical way, just genuinely content.
“It gave me goosebumps as it was a moment of clarity. After all the experiences I’d had, I felt fully competent and ready for anything.”
Arnott’s passion for this vocation began when he took a degree in coaching in Manchester, focussing heavily on psychology, physiology and biomechanics, as well as on pitch coaching.
Keen to gain practical experience and broaden his horizons, he moved to the US upon his graduation, helping to build an elite grassroots programme across Michigan and Illinois, as well as working for MLS side Chicago Fire.
Gaining various coaching qualifications, right up to a Pro Diploma, he returned to the UK when his five-year visa expired, ready to take on his A-License, only to discover his badges were not recognised back home.
Effectively starting again from scratch, Arnott’s resolve was severely tested.
“My mindset was, ‘if you work 16 hours, I’ll work 17,’” he states, reflecting on a ‘tough’ period where he regularly worked 80 hours a week across a range of part-time coaching roles just to make ends meet.
“It was almost burnout, a bit silly really, but I just wanted to coach and improve,” Arnott continues. “From there though, I got a part-time position at Leeds United’s Academy, before an opportunity arose for me to work at first-team level out in Spain.”
Regarding that “jump off the cliff moment” as a decision which changed his life, Arnott describes cultural learnings and observance of body language as two standout improvements he made as assistant first team coach with third tier Spanish side Atletico Astorga.
Sister club Cultural Leonesa, a Segunda Division outfit, also allowed him to observe training, which opened his eyes to lots of new ideas.
“As I picked up more Spanish, mostly football and café language, training and daily life became easier. Once that happened, it just opened up my thinking,” he remembers. “Since then, I’ve become more adaptable to each different personality and their culture.”
Looking back, the Englishman also takes special pride in his involvement in aiding the development of Tarek Salman, a raw young central defender at the time, who has since gone on to earn 80 caps for Qatar and play at the World Cup.
Leeds United offered Arnott a route back to the UK in the summer of 2018, rejoining the Yorkshire club in a full-time capacity with the Under-23s, working alongside Danny Schofield and with Carlos Corberan (now head coach at Valencia). This was a great period of development with the Under-23s operating side-by-side with first team players in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.
The legendary Argentine prefers a small squad that integrates with the Under-23s for much of the week, and Arnott believes working at such close quarters was extremely beneficial.
“Watching how Carlos had a presence in both the 23s and first team was educational. Seeing how the players valued that bridge, and the way we all learned Bielsa’s methodology through that relationship was amazing.
“I have taken Bielsa’s inclusivity and desire to work closely with younger players into my future roles,” he says.
“At that time, I was ‘below looking up’ trying to bring players through. Now, here in Hong Kong I’m in a position similar to what Carlos did, bridging both sides together.
“I enjoy it as it allows me to help players with their pathway, share insights with the senior team manager and staff, and highlight who’s doing well, or needs a push. It’s a great motivation for players to build that connection with all of us too.”
Ready for a new challenge, in January 2021 Arnott accepted a position as assistant head coach with Norwegian top-flight side Stromsgodset.
A reshuffle took place shortly after his arrival which led to Arnott handling the vast majority of first team coaching. He led staff meetings, physio briefings, analysis, and match preparation, but on matchdays the joint managers then took control of the technical area.
“It was a strange situation for me, leading without being the leader, but a great experience,” he recalls. “I had full exposure to what being a manager involves: planning, analysis, medical coordination, and leadership.
“I didn’t mind putting the hours in because the people there were great, the culture was brilliant and flying into games at stadiums I’d grown up watching on Champions League nights was surreal. I’d think, ‘How did I get from Scarborough to here?’”
After a strong start, results dipped during his second campaign in Norway, leading to an inevitable change of management, but Arnott views that period as crucial to his development.
“That experience was invaluable, and after Spain, it gave me even more growth. I had learned Norwegian too, so now I’ve got two languages under my belt,” he says with a wide grin.
Leeds United came calling again in early 2023, employing Arnott to lead the Under-16s and assist with the Under-18s.
He was preparing to lay down roots back in Yorkshire, but the journey in football is non-linear, as Arnott is more than aware of, and things did not develop how he had anticipated.
So, with a view to adding wider leadership skills to his armoury, Arnott was encouraged to apply for the Hong Kong role and, as they say, the rest is history.
With our conversation turning back towards the present, we ask about the differences coaching youngsters in Asia compared with the UK.
Candidly, Arnott replies, “There’s a real melting pot of experiences with the players I work with here. Some have trained overseas, receiving a broader football education, while others are only used to a culture which is quite hierarchical by comparison. So you have to be more directive.
“For example, if I put on a video to 16-year-olds asking them for feedback in England, five lads would probably respond immediately. Whereas here, you may have to push for someone to speak up within the U-20s group. They have the knowledge and capability, but culturally it’s not as natural for them to have that dialogue with their manager.
“So, my style here is to deliver in multiple ways,” he adds. “I use keynote presentations, video clips, slides, tactics boards, and demonstrations. Then on the pitch, we walk through examples. It’s both visual and physical, so if a player doesn’t fully understand in a meeting, they’ll get it on the pitch.”
In a sign of Arnott’s growing stature in the game, he is currently enrolled on the Premier League’s Elite Coach Accreditation Scheme (ECAS), a world-class development opportunity for high potential coaches.
Leaving Leeds for Hong Kong early in the two-year programme has made it harder to attend each in-person event, but the 39-year-old still sees tremendous value in travelling halfway across the world to mix with his talented cohort.
“Take football out of it and you’ve got great decision-makers, reflective people, those willing to challenge and discuss ideas, everywhere you look at ECAS. No matter who you’re paired with, it feels like you are among a truly elite group,” says Arnott.
“All the speakers and experiences that Danny Newcombe and the team provide us with are brilliant, but it’s also that mutual learning between us, where you’re constantly picking things up from each other, that makes it so special.
“I have done a lot of courses in my career, so I know the design and delivery at ECAS is simply outstanding. I wanted a focus on improving my leadership under pressure, and the tasks they have tailored for me have pushed those triggers perfectly, and taught me so much that I can use moving forward.”
Over in Hong Kong, Arnott now finds himself at a crossroads moment.
After going unbeaten in five AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches against India, Bangladesh and Singapore, the men’s national team, where the Yorkshireman was assisting head coach Ashley Westwood, needed to win their last match to make it to the finals tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Heartbreakingly, they lost 2-1 in front of a record crowd at the Kai Tak Stadium, a result which later saw Westwood resign from his post.
“It was a painful experience. For everything positive that we had built to fall apart in a five-minute spell was devastating for everyone involved,” admits Arnott. “Drawing huge crowds it felt like we were creating something genuinely special, as the city was reconnecting with the team.
“Having that bubble burst at the final hurdle is something that will take time for all of us to process.
Arnott will happily continue in his dual role for the time being, but makes no secret of the fact he would be interested in taking the reins as national team manager in the future. If asked, it would take what’s already been an amazing personal journey to a whole new level.
“Now, we must respond with clarity,” he says. “Falling short in the way we did shifts the landscape, so our priority now must be preparing the next generation of players for success. We have to provide younger players with the exposure they need to navigate challenges we face at international level.
“What comes next for football in Hong Kong is so important, and with my experience working with the Under-20s and Under-23s, I know I have a lot to offer in that next chapter.”