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to Magnus Hedman's injury and, although he was controversially sent off the following week at Chelsea (a decision later rescinded), he went on to enjoy a short run in the line-up.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
19 Aug 2006 Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
26 Aug 2006 Wigan Athletic v Reading W 1-0 Premier League
09 Sep 2006 Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
16 Sep 2006 Everton v Wigan Athletic D 2-2 Premier League
23 Sep 2006 Wigan Athletic v Watford D 1-1 Premier League
01 Oct 2006 Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
14 Oct 2006 Wigan Athletic v Manchester United L 1-3 Premier League
21 Oct 2006 Wigan Athletic v Manchester City W 4-0 Premier League
28 Oct 2006 Fulham v Wigan Athletic W 0-1 Premier League
04 Nov 2006 Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic W 0-1 Premier League
11 Nov 2006 Wigan Athletic v Charlton Athletic W 3-2 Premier League
19 Nov 2006 Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa D 0-0 Premier League
26 Nov 2006 Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic L 3-1 Premier League
02 Dec 2006 Wigan Athletic v Liverpool L 0-4 Premier League
06 Dec 2006 West Ham United v Wigan Athletic W 0-2 Premier League
09 Dec 2006 Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
13 Dec 2006 Wigan Athletic v Arsenal L 0-1 Premier League
16 Dec 2006 Wigan Athletic v Sheffield United L 0-1 Premier League
23 Dec 2006 Wigan Athletic v Chelsea L 2-3 Premier League
26 Dec 2006 Manchester United v Wigan Athletic L 3-1 Premier League
01 Jan 2007 Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers L 0-3 Premier League
13 Jan 2007 Chelsea v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
21 Jan 2007 Wigan Athletic v Everton L 0-2 Premier League
30 Jan 2007 Reading v Wigan Athletic L 3-2 Premier League
03 Feb 2007 Wigan Athletic v Portsmouth W 1-0 Premier League
11 Feb 2007 Arsenal v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
11 Aug 2007 Everton v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
15 Aug 2007 Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough W 1-0 Premier League
18 Aug 2007 Wigan Athletic v Sunderland W 3-0 Premier League
25 Aug 2007 West Ham United v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
01 Sep 2007 Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
15 Sep 2007 Wigan Athletic v Fulham D 1-1 Premier League
22 Sep 2007 Reading v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
29 Sep 2007 Wigan Athletic v Liverpool L 0-1 Premier League
06 Oct 2007 Manchester United v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
20 Oct 2007 Wigan Athletic v Portsmouth L 0-2 Premier League
27 Oct 2007 Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic L 3-2 Premier League
03 Nov 2007 Wigan Athletic v Chelsea L 0-2 Premier League
11 Nov 2007 Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
01 Dec 2007 Wigan Athletic v Manchester City D 1-1 Premier League
09 Dec 2007 Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic L 4-1 Premier League
15 Dec 2007 Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers W 5-3 Premier League
22 Dec 2007 Fulham v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
26 Dec 2007 Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United W 1-0 Premier League
29 Dec 2007 Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa L 1-2 Premier League
02 Jan 2008 Liverpool v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
12 Jan 2008 Derby County v Wigan Athletic W 0-1 Premier League
20 Jan 2008 Wigan Athletic v Everton L 1-2 Premier League
26 Jan 2008 Wigan Athletic v Chelsea L 1-2 FA Cup 4th round
29 Jan 2008 Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
02 Feb 2008 Wigan Athletic v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League
09 Feb 2008 Sunderland v Wigan Athletic L 2-0 Premier League
23 Feb 2008 Wigan Athletic v Derby County W 2-0 Premier League
01 Mar 2008 Manchester City v Wigan Athletic D 0-0 Premier League
09 Mar 2008 Wigan Athletic v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
16 Mar 2008 Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers W 1-0 Premier League
22 Mar 2008 Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic L 3-1 Premier League
29 Mar 2008 Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic L 2-0 Premier League
05 Apr 2008 Wigan Athletic v Birmingham City W 2-0 Premier League
14 Apr 2008 Chelsea v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
19 Apr 2008 Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur D 1-1 Premier League
26 Apr 2008 Wigan Athletic v Reading D 0-0 Premier League
03 May 2008 Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic W 0-2 Premier League
11 May 2008 Wigan Athletic v Manchester United L 0-2 Premier League
16 Aug 2008 West Ham United v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
30 Aug 2008 Hull City v Wigan Athletic W 0-5 Premier League
13 Sep 2008 Wigan Athletic v Sunderland D 1-1 Premier League
21 Sep 2008 Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic D 0-0 Premier League
24 Sep 2008 Ipswich Town v Wigan Athletic W 1-4 League Cup 3rd round
28 Sep 2008 Wigan Athletic v Manchester City W 2-1 Premier League
04 Oct 2008 Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough L 0-1 Premier League
18 Oct 2008 Liverpool v Wigan Athletic L 3-2 Premier League
26 Oct 2008 Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa L 0-4 Premier League
29 Oct 2008 Fulham v Wigan Athletic L 2-0 Premier League
01 Nov 2008 Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic W 1-2 Premier League
08 Nov 2008 Wigan Athletic v Stoke City D 0-0 Premier League
11 Nov 2008 Arsenal v Wigan Athletic L 3-0 League Cup 4th round
15 Nov 2008 Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic D 2-2 Premier League
24 Nov 2008 Wigan Athletic v Everton W 1-0 Premier League
29 Nov 2008 Wigan Athletic v West Bromwich Albion W 2-1 Premier League
06 Dec 2008 Arsenal v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
13 Dec 2008 Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers W 3-0 Premier League
26 Dec 2008 Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United W 2-1 Premier League
11 Jan 2009 Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur W 1-0 Premier League
14 Jan 2009 Manchester United v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
17 Jan 2009 Manchester City v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
31 Jan 2009 Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic D 0-0 Premier League
07 Feb 2009 Wigan Athletic v Fulham D 0-0 Premier League
21 Feb 2009 Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic D 0-0 Premier League
28 Feb 2009 Chelsea v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
04 Mar 2009 Wigan Athletic v West Ham United L 0-1 Premier League
14 Mar 2009 Sunderland v Wigan Athletic W 1-2 Premier League
22 Mar 2009 Wigan Athletic v Hull City W 1-0 Premier League
05 Apr 2009 Everton v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
11 Apr 2009 Wigan Athletic v Arsenal L 1-4 Premier League
26 Apr 2009 Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic L 2-0 Premier League
02 May 2009 Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers D 0-0 Premier League
09 May 2009 West Bromwich Albion v Wigan Athletic L 3-1 Premier League
15 Aug 2009 Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic W 0-2 Premier League
18 Aug 2009 Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers L 0-1 Premier League
22 Aug 2009 Wigan Athletic v Manchester United L 0-5 Premier League
12 Sep 2009 Wigan Athletic v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League
19 Sep 2009 Arsenal v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
26 Sep 2009 Wigan Athletic v Chelsea W 3-1 Premier League
03 Oct 2009 Hull City v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
18 Oct 2009 Wigan Athletic v Manchester City D 1-1 Premier League
24 Oct 2009 Burnley v Wigan Athletic W 1-3 Premier League
31 Oct 2009 Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
08 Nov 2009 Wigan Athletic v Fulham D 1-1 Premier League
22 Nov 2009 Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic L 9-1 Premier League
28 Nov 2009 Wigan Athletic v Sunderland W 1-0 Premier League
05 Dec 2009 Wigan Athletic v Birmingham City L 2-3 Premier League
12 Dec 2009 Stoke City v Wigan Athletic D 2-2 Premier League
16 Dec 2009 Liverpool v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
26 Dec 2009 Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers D 1-1 Premier League
30 Dec 2009 Manchester United v Wigan Athletic L 5-0 Premier League
16 Jan 2010 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic W 0-2 Premier League
06 Feb 2010 Sunderland v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
09 Feb 2010 Wigan Athletic v Stoke City D 1-1 Premier League
17 Feb 2010 Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers D 0-0 Premier League
21 Feb 2010 Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur L 0-3 Premier League
27 Feb 2010 Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic L 1-0 Premier League
08 Mar 2010 Wigan Athletic v Liverpool W 1-0 Premier League
13 Mar 2010 Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic L 4-0 Premier League
16 Mar 2010 Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa L 1-2 Premier League
20 Mar 2010 Wigan Athletic v Burnley W 1-0 Premier League
04 Apr 2010 Fulham v Wigan Athletic L 2-1 Premier League
14 Apr 2010 Wigan Athletic v Portsmouth D 0-0 Premier League
18 Apr 2010 Wigan Athletic v Arsenal W 3-2 Premier League
24 Apr 2010 West Ham United v Wigan Athletic L 3-2 Premier League
14 Aug 2010 Wigan Athletic v Blackpool L 0-4 Premier League
21 Aug 2010 Wigan Athletic v Chelsea L 0-6 Premier League
23 Oct 2010 Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers D 1-1 Premier League
05 Jan 2011 Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic D 1-1 Premier League


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.