I was Man City prospect who fell into booze and drugs, was stabbed twice and jailed… now I’m earning coaching badges

FORMER Manchester City prospect Daniel Warrender has opened about being jailed and stabbed twice after falling into booze and drugs.

Manchester-born Warrender has since turned his life around and is working hard to earn an Uefa B coaching badge.

Warrender bravely opened up about overcoming past struggles on the ‘I Had Trials Once Podcast’.

The former Man City youth star was first stabbed outside a city centre nightclub following a Manchester derby match in 2010.

Warrender’s wound was reportedly minor, but doctors informed him that the shock of the incident had brought on a heart problem.

And the ex-defender unfortunately went on to land himself in a world of trouble with the law a year later in 2011.

Warrender was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2013 after punching a man in a nightclub bust-up.

According to court reports at the time, he left the victim scarred after he fell over on to a broken pint glass.

The shards tore a 3.5cm wound down the man’s right cheek, and made several other cuts on his face, nose and arm, a court heard.

The judge noted that Warrender was usually a “decent, hard working man” but had drunk “a skin-full” of alcohol before the attack in Stockport.

Justice Bernard Lever told him that his single blow had “absolutely tragic consequences” for both men, according to the Manchester Evening News.

And that it did, as Warrender, who was playing football for non-league side Ramsbottom United at the time, found himself behind bars.

Warrender said: “I’ve been at Manchester City, decent little prospect whatever.

“And then within two years I was in prison for various violent offences and drugs and drink, whatever, you name it, I’ve done it.

“I was stabbed on two different occasions and hospitalised a total of nine times.

“But that was normal life to me. But now I’m on the Uefa B course. I’ve got two beautiful kids. One of them is a superstar at City.”

Warrender’s son George is currently playing for Man City’s Under-11 youth side.

Fans have dubbed the youngster a “mini Phil Foden” for his skill – but also because of his uncanny resemblance to the England superstar.

And tearful Warrender added: “I’ve got my own coaching pitch, which I own outright…sorry I’m going again. I told you I cry all the time.

“But now, honestly, when kids give me a thank you and that, I’m in the house with my missus crying. But I love it.”

The now 38-year-old was brutally attacked for the second time on New Year’s Eve in 2017.

His brother David Warrender, a convicted drug dealer, was said to be in control of the bar.

But it was substantially worse on this occasion as Warrender was stabbed several times and suffered a punctured lung and kidney.

Warrender was part of the squad who beat Manchester United‘s youth in the Manchester Senior Cup in 2005.

He was shipped out on loan to Blackpool a few months later, before he joined the League One side permanently in 2006.

But his time at The Tangerines was cut short when he moved down into the non-league game with Rossendale United.

He then spent time in the USA with San Francisco Seals before returning to the UK with FC United of Manchester.

Warrender was shipped back and forth between Ramsbottom and FC United before and after his time in prison.