List of Birmingham City F.C. players (1–24 appearances)

In the early days, the scarcity of nationally organised competitive football meant players could spend many years with the club while making few such outings.

Brothers Fred, Tommy and Arthur James, who was the club captain from 1878 to 1885, were founder members of Small Heath Alliance but made only 24 between them.

[3] Steve Finnan, whose professional career began at the club, went on to win the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool and played for the Republic of Ireland at the 2002 World Cup.

Some were young players gaining experience: Michael Carrick went on to play more than 300 Premier League matches[7] and Sigurd Rushfeldt became the Norwegian Tippeligaen's all-time top scorer.

[8] Other loanees had an established career but were not needed by their owning club: Nigeria international Obafemi Martins scored Birmingham's winning goal against Arsenal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final before his loan spell was cut short by injury.

A faded team photo: eleven men in sports clothing, eight in hats and coats, and a large shield.
Small Heath F.C. pictured in 1893 with the Football League Second Division trophy. Includes players Teddy Jolley (standing, left), Bernard Pumfrey (seated, second left), and Jack Lee (on ground, right).
Head and upper torso of a white man with a moustache wearing a dark sports shirt.
Harry Wilcox went on to play more than 300 times for Plymouth Argyle and captained the club to the 1913 Southern League title. [ 12 ]
A white man with his arms folded, wearing a striped sports shirt.
Archie Roe played for six clubs in the Football League but made only 59 appearances in total. [ 13 ]
Head and upper torso of a young dark-haired white man wearing a red football shirt bearing the Carlsberg logo
Steve Finnan , who began his professional career with Birmingham, played for the Republic of Ireland in the 2002 World Cup and won the Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool . [ 4 ]
Dark-haired young man wearing blue and white football kit.
Mauro Zárate scored Lazio 's goal in the 2009 Coppa Italia Final . [ 14 ]
Head and upper torso of a young black man wearing a sports shirt with a number nine on the chest.
Loanee Obafemi Martins scored Birmingham's winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final . [ 9 ]
Head and upper torso of a white man wearing goalkeeping kit.
Loanee Matija Sarkic was voted Birmingham's 2021–22 Player of the Season. [ 10 ]