Chris Kirkland

Date of birth02 May 1981
Place of birthLeicester
NationalityEnglish
Weight73 kg
Height1.98 m
PositionGoalkeeper

Having previously played only one senior game for Coventry City before the start of 2000-01, Chris Kirkland made tremendous progress and, by the summer of 2001, he could rightly claim that he was the club's number one goalkeeper.

He got an unexpected call up to first team duty against Tottenham Hotspur in October due to Magnus Hedman's injury and, although he was controversially sent off the following week at Chelsea (a decision later rescinded), he went on to enjoy a short run in the line-up.

He created a great impression with some fine performances and, after another short spell in the team over Christmas, he took over from the out-of-form Hedman in March.

Growing in confidence all the time, he was particularly inspiring in the home game with Chelsea when he pulled off half a dozen outstanding saves.

Despite the disappointment of relegation for the Sky Blues, he capped a fine personal season when he made his debut for England Under-21s against Mexico during the summer.

After a loan spell, Chris joined Wigan Athletic in October 2006 with a contract to June 2009 that was extended to June 2012 in May 2008.

He joined Sheffield Wednesday in July 2012 with a one-year contract that was extended to June 2015 in July 2014.

Chris joined Preston North End in August 2015 with a one-year contract.

He joined Bury in July 2016 with a one-year contract that was cancelled in the following month.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Coventry City 06 May 1998 31 Aug 2001
Liverpool 31 Aug 2001 27 Oct 2006
West Bromwich Albion 01 Jul 2005 31 May 2006 L
Wigan Athletic 11 Jul 2006 26 Oct 2006 L
Wigan Athletic 27 Oct 2006 30 Jun 2012
Leicester City 25 Nov 2010 03 Jan 2011 L
Doncaster Rovers 13 Oct 2011 20 Oct 2011 L
Sheffield Wednesday 01 Jul 2012 30 Jun 2015
Preston North End 12 Aug 2015 30 Jun 2016
Bury 01 Jul 2016 05 Aug 2016

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Clean sheets Conceded Y R
1999-00 Coventry City League Cup 1 1
2000-01 Coventry City FA Cup 1 1
2000-01 Coventry City League Cup 2
1
1 2
2000-01 Coventry City Premier League 23 2 40
1
1
2001-02 Coventry City League Division 1 1 1
2001-02 Liverpool League Cup 1 2
2001-02 Liverpool Premier League 1 1
2001-02 Liverpool UEFA Champions League 2 1
2002-03 Liverpool FA Cup 2 1
2002-03 Liverpool League Cup 4 1 5
1
2002-03 Liverpool Premier League 8 1 8
2002-03 Liverpool UEFA Cup 1 1
2003-04 Liverpool FA Cup 1 1
2003-04 Liverpool League Cup 1 3
2003-04 Liverpool Premier League 6 7
1
2003-04 Liverpool UEFA Cup 4 2 3
2004-05 Liverpool Premier League 10 1 13
2004-05 Liverpool UEFA Champions League 4 1 2
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion FA Cup 2 4
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 10 18
2006-07 Wigan Athletic Premier League 26 6 38
1
2007-08 Wigan Athletic FA Cup 1 2
2007-08 Wigan Athletic Premier League 37 9 48
2008-09 Wigan Athletic League Cup 2 4
2008-09 Wigan Athletic Premier League 32 6 38
1
2009-10 Wigan Athletic Premier League 32 6 60
2010-11 Leicester City League Championship 3 7
2010-11 Wigan Athletic Premier League 4 11
2011-12 Doncaster Rovers League Championship 1 3
2012-13 Sheffield Wednesday League Championship 46 8 60
3
2012-13 Sheffield Wednesday League Cup 1 2
2013-14 Sheffield Wednesday League Championship 35 7 50
1
2013-14 Sheffield Wednesday League Cup 1 2
2014-15 Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup 1 2
2014-15 Sheffield Wednesday League Championship 3
1
4
2014-15 Sheffield Wednesday League Cup 3 2 7
2015-16 Preston North End FA Cup 1 2
2015-16 Preston North End League Championship 4
1
3


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
13 Aug 2005 Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion D 0-0 Premier League
20 Aug 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth W 2-1 Premier League
24 Aug 2005 Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion L 4-0 Premier League
27 Aug 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City L 2-3 Premier League
10 Sep 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Wigan Athletic L 1-2 Premier League
17 Sep 2005 Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion D 1-1 Premier League
24 Sep 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Charlton Athletic L 1-2 Premier League
01 Oct 2005 Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion L 2-0 Premier League
15 Oct 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal W 2-1 Premier League
23 Oct 2005 Bolton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion L 2-0 Premier League
07 Jan 2006 West Bromwich Albion v Reading D 1-1 FA Cup 3rd round
17 Jan 2006 Reading v West Bromwich Albion L 3-2 FA Cup 3rd round replay


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Clean sheets Conceded Y R
1999-00 England Under-18 1
1
2000-01 England Under-21 1 1
2001-02 England UEFA Under-21 3 1 3
2001-02 England Under-21
1
2002-03 England UEFA Under-21 1 1
2002-03 England Under-21 1 1
2003-04 England UEFA Under-21 1 1
2006-07 England International Friendly
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
07 Sep 1999 England v Switzerland L 0-1 U18
08 Mar 2000 England v France L 0-3 U18
24 May 2001 England v Mexico W 3-0 Under-21
05 Oct 2001 England v Greece W 2-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 9
09 Nov 2001 Netherlands v England D 2-2 UEFA Under-21 Play-off
13 Nov 2001 England v Netherlands W 1-0 UEFA Under-21 Play-off
16 Apr 2002 England v Portugal L 0-1 Under-21
06 Sep 2002 England v Yugoslavia D 1-1 Under-21
15 Oct 2002 England v North Macedonia W 3-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 7
05 Sep 2003 North Macedonia v England D 1-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 7
16 Aug 2006 England v Greece W 4-0 International Friendly


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.