Promotion Profiles – Birmingham City

By: Wayne Farry | June 3rd, 2009

Sorry for the delay with the second of these but it’s been a long time since I was so disappointed as I was after Wednesday night. The last few days have been sort of a blur but I’m back and lucid as ever, so must keep going. A few weeks back I covered Wolves and profiled them for the upcoming season. Now comes the turn of Birmingham City, who finished second in the Championship, thereby being promoted automatically.

Birmingham were relegated from the EPL in the 2007/08 season, despite beating Blackburn 4-1 on the final day of the season. However, they stood by manager Alex McLeish and have seen the rewards of not rashly sacking a manager. They, like many before them have bounced back to the EPL at the first attempt. Much of this is down to the signing of Kevin Phillips. The veteran striker was released by West Brom after they were promoted (ironic, considering WBA struggled to score last season) and was promptly snatched by Brum. The striker provided fourteen goals for them last season and has come up with them when needed, such as against Reading on the final day of the season.

Founded: 1875
Stadium: St. Andrew’s Stadium
Capacity: 30,009
Chairman: David Gold
Managing Director: Karen Brady
Manager: Alex McLeish
Club Captain: Damien Johnson
Team Captain: Lee Carsley
Key Players: Kevin Phillips, James McFadden, Lee Carsley
2008/09 Top Scorer: Kevin Phillips
2008/09 Most Apps: Maik Taylor

2009/10 Home Kit

New home kit not released yet.

2009/10 Away Kit

What The 2009/10 Season Holds For Birmingham

Birmingham have just today added a new striker to their ranks in the form of Ecuadorian frontman Christian Benitez. The forward, who played for Santos Laguna previously is said to be the club’s record signing and will sign subject to a medical. The signs are good for him as Ecuadorians tend to fair quite well in England, with Antonio Valencia and Ulysses De La Cruz proving successes in their time here. Birmingham have also been linked with Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart (on a season-long loan) and he could be needed as Maik Taylor is getting on and Colin Doyle has never really proven himself. They should hold onto Phillips, who even at his age will get a few in the EPL and in my eyes only need a few improvements to their squad to be happy with things. They could probably do with a centre back after their captain Liam Ridgwell broke his leg at the end of last season.

Christian Benitez could be the difference between relegation and survival for Birmingham

They have a good centre midfield with former Toffee Lee Carsley providing the grit. Although in the twilight of his playing days, I suspect Carsley has one or two EPL seasons left in him, he’ll be key. Of course, they’ll be one of the favourites to go down but if I were a Brum fan I’d be quietly confident for the coming season. If they buy wisely then they could stay up, in my opinion fifteenth or sixteenth would be a great finish for them, but if Benitez is a success they could finish midtable.