Born in Leicester, Leicestershire, Baraclough started his career with local team Leicester City, and has also played for Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Notts County and Queens Park Rangers. Baraclough signed for QPR in March 1998 making his debut against Stoke City the same month. He played 125 league games for them, scoring one goal against Huddersfield Town. After his spell at Loftus Road, Baraclough joined Notts County and enjoyed a turbulent first season captaining the side on a few occasions. He later signed for Scunthorpe United in 2004 on a free transfer, enjoying fantastic success with the Iron, winning promotion from Football League Two. He was part of the team who were then promoted from Football League One as champions to the Football League Championship in 2007 and then once more via the playoffs in 2009 as part of the backroom staff at Glanford Park where he had great success as coach/assistant to Nigel Adkins. Baraclough made 124 League starts and nine as a substitute, scoring seven goals for Scunthorpe.
Coaching career
Scunthorpe United
When Nigel Adkins was appointed Scunthorpe manager in November 2006, Baraclough was made head first-team coach. From the 2008–09 season, he ceased playing to concentrate on coaching duties. Baraclough was appointed caretaker manager of the club on 12 September 2010, following Adkins' departure to League One Southampton. His first match was a 4–0 away win at Sheffield United. On 24 September 2010 Scunthorpe United named him as their new manager. He was surprisingly dismissed on 16 March 2011 after a 3–0 loss to Preston North End, who occupied 24th place in the Championship, with his team having just dropped into the relegation zone at the time of his dismissal.
Sligo Rovers
On 27 February 2012, Baraclough was announced as the new manager of League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers. He fought off competition from former Aston Villa boss Brian Little, former Sligo legend Willie McStay, and Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane. On 13 October 2012, Baraclough led Sligo Rovers to their first League of Ireland title in 35 years. The 3–2 victory against St Patrick's Athletic secured the league title with two games to play and was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,600 at The Showgrounds. As a result of this title, Sligo Rovers qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League, and Baraclough was the sole English coach involved in that season's competition. Baraclough then led Sligo Rovers to their fifth FAI Cup triumph in an exciting 3–2 win over Drogheda United in the 2013 FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium on 3 November. Baraclough and Sligo Rovers continued their winn ing habit by lifting the first major piece of silverware available during the 2014 season by defeating high flying Dundalk in the All-Ireland Setanta Sports Cup at a rain soaked Tallaght Stadium. The 1–0 victory gave Sligo Rovers their first ever cross border title since they were formed in 1928. On 19 June 2014, Baraclough parted company with Sligo Rovers with the club in fifth place, 17 points behind leaders Dundalk. After leaving Sligo, Baraclough worked as a scout for Huddersfield Town.
On 13 December 2014, Baraclough was appointed manager of Motherwell of the Scottish Premiership, replacing Stuart McCall. Despite a very tough season he led the club to league safety after 6-1 aggregate victory in the Scottish Premiership play-offs against Rangers in a two-legged final at the end of the season. In an ironic twist of events, the opposition manager was his predecessor at Fir Park, Stuart McCall. Baraclough left Motherwell in September 2015, with the club having taken seven points from their first eight league games of the 2015–16 season.
In July 2016, Baraclough was appointed assistant manager at League One club Oldham Athletic by incoming manager Steve Robinson who he worked with at Baraclough's previous club Motherwell.
