Maik Taylor Bio Send To Friend  

Taylor joined Birmingham City in March 2004 for a fee of £1.5m after impressing at St Andrews during a loan spell with the club.

The Northern Ireland international went on to make over 100 Premiership appearances for City before their subsequent relegation at the end of the 2005-06 season, but was back in the top flight again in 2009-10 with on-loan Joe Hart signed to provide him with competition.

Taylor began his career with Farnborough Town before earning a shot at League football with Barnet in the summer of 1995. He put in some inspirational displays between the sticks at Underhill and, in December 1996, Premiership side Southampton signed him for £500,000.

The stopper made his debut for Southampton in 1-0 win at Middlesbrough the following month and kept his place in the side until the end of that season.

But the Saints signed Paul Jones from Stockport County that summer, and he was immediately installed as the club's No.1. That saw Taylor through the exit door, and heading for the ambitious Fulham - led by Ray Wilkins and Kevin Keegan. He cost the Cottagers £700,000 in November 1997, making his debut in a 1-1 home draw with York City.

Taylor would help Fulham to the Second Division and First Division titles, but once the club were in the Premiership they decided to strengthen. The signing of Dutch star Edwin van der Sar was always going to knock Taylor down the pecking order, and in the 2001-02 season he made just seven appearances for the club.

He got a chance to play in the first team at Christmas when Van der Sar was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a metatarsal injury; but with the Dutchman back, Taylor was loaned out to Birmingham City for the season before sealing a permanent deal. He made 235 appearances for the Cottagers.

Making himself first choice at St Andrews, Taylor was voted Premiership fans' goalkeeper of the season in the 2003-04 campaign. He was replaced briefly as Birmingham's first choice goalkeeper in February 2007, but claimed his place back and led his side to the top flight again for 2009-10.