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Max Bird

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Max Bird
Bird in 2022
Personal information
Full name Max Andrew Bird[1]
Date of birth (2000-09-18)18 September 2000(age 24)
Place of birth Burton upon Trent,England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Bristol City
Number 6
Youth career
2010–2017 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2024 Derby County 163 (6)
2024– Bristol City 13 (1)
2024 →Derby County(loan) 9 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:06, 5 November 2024 (UTC)

Max Andrew Bird(born 18 September 2000) is an Englishfootballerwho can play either as adefensive midfielderorcentral midfielderforEFL ChampionshipclubBristol City.

Bird joinedDerby County'sacademyaged 10 in 2010 made his first-team debut in September 2017, aged 16. He would make his league debut in December 2018, aged 18. UnderPhilip Cocu,Bird started to become a mainstay in the Derby first team in late December 2019 and in September 2020, he signed a four-year contract with Derby. Bird scored his league goal in September 2021 and as Derby's enteredadministrationBird's influence increased as they were relegated to League One from the Championship.

During Derby's spell in League One, Bird became vice-captain for Derby and wore the captain's armband wheneverCurtis Davieswas unable to play in the 2022–23 season, also he was linked with several moves away from Derby and in January 2024,Bristol Citysigned Bird on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee, Bird was loaned back for the reminder of the season as he helped the club regain promotion back to the Championship with six goals in the2023–24 season,including the first goal in Derby's promotion decider againstCarlisle Unitedin his 200th and final appearance for the club, he scored ten times for Derby.

Career

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Derby County

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Having progressed through theDerby CountyAcademy,Bird made his debut for the first team againstBarnsleyin theEFL Cupon 12 September 2017. Aged 16 at the time, he became Derby's eighth-youngest player. Shortly afterwards, he signed a new contract running until 2020.[2]

Bird's first league appearance for Derby County came in the closing seconds of a 2–1 win overSwansea Cityon 1 December 2018, replacingMason Mount.[3]He made his first start on 2 March 2019 in a 4–0 away defeat toAston Villa,playing the full 90 minutes of the game.[4]He was named2019 EFL Apprentice of the Year[5]and played a part in theU18 Premier Leaguetitle success.[6][7]

In the second half of the2019–20 seasonBird broke in to the Derby County first team and became a regular feature in the squad at the age of 19.[8]On 17 September 2020, Bird signed a new deal with Derby to take him through to the end of the 2023–24 season.[7]During the2020–21 season,Bird would make 34 first team appearances.

In the2021–22 season,Bird scored his first goal for Derby in a 2–1 win againstStoke Cityon 18 September 2021,[9]he would score another goal he made 42 appearances as financial issues off the pitch caused the club to be relegated toEFL League One.[10]

Ahead of the2022–23 season,Bird was named vice-captain of the club by interim managerLiam Rosenior.[11]With club captainCurtis Daviesinjured, Bird handed the captain's armband in several games.[12]Bird made 48 appearances during the season scoring two goals, as Derby fell short of the League One promotional play-offs by 1 points. His only League One goal againstCheltenham Townon 14 January 2023 was named the club's goal of the season.[13]Bird also reached a milestone 150th first team appearance for the club during the season.[14]

During the summer pre-season and first month of the2023–24 season,Bird was linked with a return to the Championship withHull City,managed by former Derby coachLiam Roseniorinterested in signing 22-year old Bird, but no offers met Derby's valuation.[15]Bird started the first four games of the season, but this run came to an end after Bird was ruled out for two months after picking up anankle ligament injuryduring a match againstOxford Unitedon 15 August 2023.[16]Upon his return, Bird regained his place in the centre of midfield for Derby and scored the firstbraceof his career in a 4–0 win overNorthampton Townon 31 October 2023.[17]On 23 November 2023, amid speculation that a bigger club might put in an offer for the player, managerPaul Warnesaid Bird would be offered a new contract.[18]In January 2024 Warne stated that Bird would not be allowed to leave Derby in the January transfer window, despite there only being six months left on his contract.[19]

Bristol City

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On 1 February 2024, having rejected the latest contract offer and a fee having been agreed in order to avoid a tribunal case, Bird signed a three-and-a-half-year contract withBristol City,returning to Derby County on loan until the end of the season.[20]

Derby County (loan)

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After scoring three goals for Derby in a four game period either side of transfer and loan back, Bird stated his desire to help Derby ensure a top-two automatic promotion finish, which he stated would be a perfect end to his association with Derby.[21]A calf injury sustained in early March would rule Bird out of action for a month.[22]On 27 April 2024, Bird would score the opening goal in Derby's 2–0 win againstCarlisle United,a result which ensured Derby finish runners-up inLeague Oneand earn promotion to theChampionshipautomatically in Bird's 200th and final game for Derby.[23]Bird scored 10 goals in his 200 appearances for Derby and had a very emotional send-off as he was substituted late in the game to a standing ovation by the nearly 30,000 home fans, in his final moment for the club he had been at since being a ten-year old.[24]

Personal life

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On 24 February 2019, Bird's 45-year father, Andrew died from a combination ofpneumoniaandsepsis,Bird played in an under-23 Derby cup fixture 8 hours after his father's death who had just seen his 18-year-old son make his league debut two months earlier.[12]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 27 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derby County 2017–18[25] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
2018–19[26] Championship 4 0 2 0 2 0 — 8 0
2019–20[27] Championship 22 0 3 0 2 0 — 27 0
2020–21[28] Championship 33 0 0 0 1 0 — 34 0
2021–22[29] Championship 41 2 1 0 0 0 — 42 2
2022–23[30] League One 38 1 5 0 2 0 3[a] 1 43 2
2023–24[31] League One 24 3 2 0 1 0 3[a] 0 30 3
Total 163 6 13 0 9 0 6 1 191 7
Bristol City 2023–24 Championship 0 0 — — — 0 0
Derby County (loan) 2023–24[31] League One 9 3 — — — 9 3
Career total 172 9 13 0 9 0 6 1 200 10
  1. ^abAppearance(s) inEFL Trophy

Honours

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Derby County

References

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  1. ^ab"Max Bird: Profile".worldfootball.net.HEIM:SPIEL.Retrieved20 September2020.
  2. ^Jordan-Probert, Jools (23 January 2018)."Max Bird - Derby County player profile and stats".Derby Telegraph.Retrieved12 February2018.
  3. ^"Derby County 2-1 Swansea City".British Broadcasting Corporation.1 December 2018.Retrieved2 December2018.
  4. ^"Aston Villa 4-0 Derby County".British Broadcasting Corporation.2 March 2019.Retrieved7 August2019.
  5. ^"BIRD WINS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AT EFL AWARDS".Derby County F.C.7 April 2019.Retrieved14 May2023.
  6. ^"Derby Countys Under 18 Premier League Champions Where are they now".Jobs in Football. 31 May 2022.Retrieved14 May2023.
  7. ^ab"BIRD AND SIBLEY SIGN NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACTS WITH DERBY COUNTY".Derby County F.C.17 September 2020.Retrieved17 September2020.
  8. ^"Good times, tough times - Max Bird opens up on his Derby County journey".Derby Evening Telegraph.21 May 2020.Retrieved14 May2023.
  9. ^"Derby 2-1 Stoke".BBC.18 September 2021.Retrieved20 September2021.
  10. ^"Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Derby County".BBC Sport.18 April 2022.Retrieved18 April2022.
  11. ^"BIRD PROUD TO TAKE ON VICE-CAPTAINCY ROLE".Derby County F.C.22 July 2022.Retrieved14 May2023.
  12. ^ab"FA Cup fourth round: Derby County's Max Bird on what losing his dad taught him about life and loss".BBC.29 January 2023.Retrieved14 May2023.
  13. ^"END OF SEASON AWARDS: DERBY COUNTY GOAL OF THE SEASON – MAX BIRD".Derby County F.C.2 May 2023.Retrieved14 May2023.
  14. ^"KNIGHT AND BIRD REFLECT ON 150 GAMES MILESTONE".Derby County F.C.7 February 2023.Retrieved14 May2023.
  15. ^"Derby County Boss Paul Warne provides update on Hull City transfer target Max Bird".Hull Daily Mail.18 August 2023.Retrieved14 September2023.
  16. ^"Hull City facing Derby County transfer decision after Max Bird blow".Derby Evening Telegraph.15 August 2023.Retrieved14 September2023.
  17. ^"Derby County 4–0 Northampton Town".BBC.31 October 2023.Retrieved31 October2023.
  18. ^"Derby pair Cashin & Bird to be offered new deals".BBC Sport.Retrieved23 November2023.
  19. ^"Derby County activate Eiran Cashin clause as Paul Warne makes request amid transfer interest".Derby Evening Telegraph.1 January 2024.Retrieved1 January2024.
  20. ^"Max Bird and Adedire Mebude: Derby midfielder signs until 2027 and winger joins on loan".BBC Sport.1 February 2024.Retrieved2 February2024.
  21. ^"Max Bird addresses automatic promotion question after Derby County stumble".Derby Telegraph.11 February 2024.Retrieved9 March2024.
  22. ^"Derby County press notes: Pact made, key duo close to return and Wycombe disappointment".Derby Telegraph.8 April 2024.Retrieved9 April2024.
  23. ^ab"Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side".Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024.Retrieved28 April2024.
  24. ^"Derby County's promotion emotion - a £55m gesture, a fitting farewell and what happened to Ebou Adams".Derby Telegraph. 28 April 2024.Retrieved28 April2024.
  25. ^"Games played by Max Bird in 2017/2018".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved16 August2018.
  26. ^"Games played by Max Bird in 2018/2019".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved16 August2018.
  27. ^"Games played by Max Bird in 2019/2020".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved16 August2018.
  28. ^"Games played by Max Bird in 2020/2021".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved16 August2018.
  29. ^"Games played by Max Bird in 2021/2022".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved16 August2018.
  30. ^"Games played by Max Bird in 2022/2023".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved30 July2022.
  31. ^ab"Games played by Max Bird in 2023/2024".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved4 August2023.
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