Ian Kenneth Taylor (born 4 June 1968) is an English former professional footballer and sports television pundit.

He made a million-pound move to Sheffield Wednesday in June 1994, and he was sold on for another million to Aston Villa later in the year.

Taylor played for Municipal Officials and Shirley Crusaders and was a forklift trucker driver when he started his career with Southern League Premier Division side Moor Green.

[5] He got a move into the Football League in May 1992 after scoring in Green's Midland Floodlit Cup final victory, when Port Vale paid the club £15,000 (this figure later rose to £25,000 due to instalments based on appearances).

He became a regular in the side and in 1992–93 scored 15 goals to become the club's top scorer and earn himself the Player of the Year award, as well as a place on the PFA Second Division team.

[7] He also lifted the Football League Trophy, scoring a "stunning overhead back heel" against Fulham in the opening round, and going on to play in the final as Vale beat Stockport County 2–1 at Wembley Stadium.

This fact, combined with his utterly committed displays and knack of scoring crucial goals, quickly established him as a fans' favourite.

He was prolific in 1999–2000, scoring ten goals in 42 games, helping Villa to reach the 2000 FA Cup final, where they lost out 1–0 to Chelsea.

He played 44 games in 2004–05, as Derby reached the Championship play-offs, where they were defeated by Preston North End in the semi-finals.

Taylor announced that the game at home to Huddersfield Town on 27 April would be the last of his career before retiring as a professional player.

[16] In May 2004, he was considered by Barbados manager Kenville Layne for a call-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying double-header against Saint Kitts and Nevis in June 2004.

Taylor revealed that he had turned down a similar approach from the nation five years previously, as he wanted to play for England.