Birmingham City Player Profiles

Jun 20 2008

The Gaffer - Alex McLeish

Date of birth: 21 January 1959

Birthplace/nationality: Barrhead/Scottish

Nickname: Big Eck

Played for: Aberdeen, Motherwell, Scotland

Managed: Motherwell, Hibernian, Rangers, Scotland

Fascinating fact you probably already knew about Alex McLeish: His dad tried to persuade him to become an accountant - evan after he'd won his first Scotland cap.

Alex McLeish is a genuine ginger. But if his players were redheads which carrot-tops would they be?

Maik Taylor

Date of birth: 4 September 1971

Birthplace/nationality: Hildesheim, Germany/Northern Irish

Position: Goalkeeper

Signed from: Fulham, August 2003

If he were a ginger, Taylor would be...

Boris Becker – Born in Germany, good with his hands and gets better when he is close to the net.

Stephen Kelly

Date of birth: September 6 1983

Birthplace/nationality: Dublin/Republic of Ireland

Position: Right-back/centre-half

Signed from: Tottenham, June 2006

If he were a ginger, Kelly would be...

An Irish red setter – Hails from the Emerald Isle, has a friendly temperament and thrives on activity.

Martin Taylor

Date of birth: 9 November 1979

Birthplace/nationality: Ashington/English

Position: Centre-half

Signed from: Blackburn, Febraury 2004

If he were a ginger, Taylor would be...

Spuggie from Byker Grove – A native of the North East, whose style is not the prettiest. Finally seems to have been forgotten by the rest of the country since those shocking, stomach-turning scenes.

Liam Ridgewell

Date of birth: 21 July 1984

Birthplace/nationality: London/English

Position: Centre-half

Signed from: Aston Villa, August 2007

If he were a ginger, Ridgewell would be…

Red from Fraggle Rock – Often mistaken for a muppet.

Seb Larsson

Date of birth: 6 June 1985

Birthplace/nationality: Eskilstuna/Swedish

Position: Winger

Signed from: Arsenal, August 2006

If he were a ginger, Larsson would be…

Chesney from Coronation Street – Popular boyish character who has come of age in recent years. Close friends with a Great Dane (Nicklas Bendtner).

Garry O’Connor

Date of birth: 7 May 1983

Birthplace/nationality: Edinburgh/Scottish

Position: Striker

Signed from: Lokomotiv Moscow, June 2007

If he were a ginger, O’Connor would be…

Groundskeeper Willy from the Simpsons – A disgruntled Scot who is a member of the supporting cast.

Cameron Jerome

Date of birth: 14 October 1986

Birthplace/nationality: Huddersfield/English

Position: Striker

Signed from: Cardiff, May 2006

If he were a ginger, Jerome would be…

Ronald MacDonald – Has strange hair and makes it his business to be as fast as possible, regardless of the quality.

Gary McSheffrey

Date of birth: 13 August 1982

Birthplace/nationality: Coventry/English

Position: Striker/winger

Signed from: Coventry, August 2006

If he were a ginger, McSheffrey would be…

Tiffany – Extremely popular once but desperate to not be a one-hit wonder.

Mehdi Nafti

Date of birth: 28 November 1978

Birthplace/nationality: Toulouse, France/Tunisian

Position: Defensive midfielder

Signed from: Racing Santander, January 2005

If he were a ginger, Nafti would be…

Finding Nemo – Seemed to have lost his way for a while and was heading across the sea, but things are going swimmingly for him now.

Colin Doyle

Date of birth: 12 June 1985

Birthplace/nationality: Cork/Republic of Ireland

Position: Goalkeeper

Signed from: Came through Blues youth ranks

If he were a ginger, Doyle would be…

Prince Harry – Since his first date with Chelsy (Chelsea), his public appearances have been low key. Sensibly, he wasn’t risked in the battle-zone last year. He is waiting in line, possibly in vain, to be the number one.

David Murphy

Date of birth: 1 March 1984

Birthplace/nationality: Hartlepool, English

Position: Left-back

Signed from: Hibernian, January 2008

If he were a ginger, Murphy would be…

Russ Abbott’s CU Jimmy – People outside of Scotland wrongly assume that he’s a Jock, and it’s not funny.

Franck Queudrue

Date of birth: 27 August 1978

Birthplace/nationality: Paris/French

Position: Left-back/centre-half

Signed from: Fulham, August 2007

If he were a ginger, Queudrue would be…

A gingerbread man – Prone to losing his head and being described as ‘rubbish’ by those watching the pounds.

James McFadden

Date of birth: 14 April 1983

Birthplace/nationality: Glasgow/Scottish

Position: Striker

Signed from: Everton, January 2008

If he were a ginger, McFadden would be…

King James I – A popular Scottish king who found it more difficult to rule in England.

Stuart Parnaby

Date of birth: 19 July 1982

Birthplace/nationality: Durham/English

Position: Right-back

Signed from: Middlesbrough, June 2007

If he were a ginger, Parnaby would be…

A red squirrel – Made plenty of appearances in its natural habitat, but sightings of it around here are now extremely rare.

Damien Johnson

Date of birth: 18 November 1978

Birthplace/nationality: Lisburn/Northern Irish

Position: Battling midfielder

Signed from: Blackburn, March 2002

If he were a ginger, Johnson would be…

Avid Merrion – Despite being bandaged up and showing signs of injury, he still manages to stalk, harass and terrorise.

Olivier Kapo

Date of birth: 27 September 1980

Birthplace/nationality: Abidjan/French

Position: Midfielder

Signed from: Juventus, June 2007

If he were a ginger, Kapo would be…

Miranda in Sex and the City – Used to hanging out in more glamorous places with more glamorous people. His passionate friends tend to get noticed ahead of him.

Radhi Jaidi

Date of birth: 30 August 1975

Birthplace/nationality: Tunis/Tunisian

Position: Centre-half

Signed from: Bolton, August 2006

If he were a ginger, Jaidi would be…

Geri Halliwell – Seemed good in the nineties, but a bit battered now.

Lee Carsley

Date of birth: 28 February 1974

Birthplace/nationality: Birmingham/English

Position: Ball-winning midfielder

Signed from: Everton/June 2007

If he were a ginger, Carsley would be…

Cilla Black – Might be getting on a bit, but arrived from Merseyside determined to bare teeth.

Kevin Phillips

Date of birth: 25 July 1973

Birthplace/nationality: Hitchin/English

Position: Striker

Signed from: West Brom, July 2008

If he were a ginger, Phillips would be...

Little Red Riding Hood - Little. Delivers the goods for an old 'un, but doesn't get on well with Wolves.

Marcus Bent

Date of birth: 19 May 1978

Birthplace/nationality: Hammersmith/English

Position: Striker

Signed from Charlton, July 2008

If he were a ginger, Bent would be...

Lulu - Got a gay-sounding name