Birmingham City Quiz
Free Birmingham City quiz with explained answers — the 2011 League Cup, the Second City derby, Trevor Francis and Jude Bellingham's retired shirt.
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easy
Which England midfielder came through Birmingham City's academy before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020?
WhyBirmingham retired the number 22 shirt in his honour, an unusual tribute to a 17-year-old. -
easy
By what nickname are Birmingham City known?
WhyThe royal blue shirt has been the club's identity for well over a century. -
medium
Birmingham City won the League Cup in 2011 by beating which club in the final?
WhyBirmingham won 2-1 at Wembley after a late defensive mix-up gifted them the winner. -
medium
Which colourful manager, known for his rapid-fire press conferences, took charge of Birmingham City in 1993?
WhyFry won the club promotion and the Football League Trophy before being replaced by Trevor Francis. -
hard
Birmingham City also won the League Cup in 1963, beating which club over two legs?
WhyBeating their city rivals 3-1 on aggregate made it the club's first major trophy. -
medium
What happened to Birmingham City in the same season they won the 2011 League Cup?
WhyWinning a major trophy and going down in the same campaign is a rare and unhappy combination. -
medium
Which manager led Birmingham City to the 2011 League Cup?
WhyMcLeish left for Aston Villa shortly afterwards, a move that outraged Birmingham supporters; the other three also managed the club. -
hard
Who scored Birmingham City's winning goal in the 2011 League Cup final?
WhyMartins pounced on a mix-up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny in the closing minutes. -
medium
Trevor Francis, a Birmingham City academy product, became famous in 1979 as English football's first what?
WhyNottingham Forest paid the fee, and Francis repaid it by scoring the winner in that season's European Cup final. -
easy
Birmingham City's fierce rivalry, the Second City derby, is with which club?
WhyThe two clubs are barely three miles apart in the same city, and the fixture is among the most heated in England. -
hard
Who is Birmingham City's record goalscorer?
WhyBradford scored 267 goals between the wars, a tally no Birmingham player has come near since. -
easy
Which ground has been Birmingham City's home since 1906?
WhyAll four grounds are in the West Midlands, but only St Andrew's belongs to Birmingham City. -
hard
Which goalkeeper holds Birmingham City's record for appearances?
WhyMerrick made over 550 appearances and also played in goal for England at two World Cups. -
hard
Birmingham City were founded in 1875 under what name?
WhyFormed by cricketers from the Small Heath district, the club became Birmingham in 1905 and Birmingham City in 1943. -
hard
Karren Brady became Birmingham City's managing director in 1993 at what notable age?
WhyShe was the youngest managing director of a UK plc at the time and later took a senior role at West Ham. -
hard
Birmingham City reached two consecutive European finals in the late 1950s and early 1960s in which competition?
WhyThey lost the 1960 and 1961 finals, having become the first English club side to reach a European final.
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About Birmingham City
Birmingham City are Blues, founded in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance by cricketers looking for something to do in winter. St Andrew's has been home since 1906.
The defining modern day is 27 February 2011, when Alex McLeish's side beat Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley to win the League Cup, Obafemi Martins bundling in the winner after a mix-up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny. Three months later Birmingham were relegated from the Premier League — a trophy and the drop in a single season.
The club has an unusual habit of producing players who become famous elsewhere. Trevor Francis came through the academy and left to become English football's first £1 million player. Four decades later Jude Bellingham did something similar at greater speed, going to Borussia Dortmund at 17 and leaving behind a retired number 22 shirt.
And the rivalry defines everything else. Aston Villa are barely three miles away, the Second City derby is among the most hostile in England, and the 1963 League Cup — Birmingham's first major trophy — was won against them.
Birmingham City quiz answers, explained
Every question from the quiz above. Play it first; each answer stays folded until you open it.
Which England midfielder came through Birmingham City's academy before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020?
Show answer
Jude Bellingham. Birmingham retired the number 22 shirt in his honour, an unusual tribute to a 17-year-old.
By what nickname are Birmingham City known?
Show answer
Blues. The royal blue shirt has been the club's identity for well over a century.
Birmingham City won the League Cup in 2011 by beating which club in the final?
Show answer
Arsenal. Birmingham won 2-1 at Wembley after a late defensive mix-up gifted them the winner.
Which colourful manager, known for his rapid-fire press conferences, took charge of Birmingham City in 1993?
Show answer
Barry Fry. Fry won the club promotion and the Football League Trophy before being replaced by Trevor Francis.
Birmingham City also won the League Cup in 1963, beating which club over two legs?
Show answer
Aston Villa. Beating their city rivals 3-1 on aggregate made it the club's first major trophy.
What happened to Birmingham City in the same season they won the 2011 League Cup?
Show answer
They were relegated from the Premier League. Winning a major trophy and going down in the same campaign is a rare and unhappy combination.
Which manager led Birmingham City to the 2011 League Cup?
Show answer
Alex McLeish. McLeish left for Aston Villa shortly afterwards, a move that outraged Birmingham supporters; the other three also managed the club.
Who scored Birmingham City's winning goal in the 2011 League Cup final?
Show answer
Obafemi Martins. Martins pounced on a mix-up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny in the closing minutes.
Trevor Francis, a Birmingham City academy product, became famous in 1979 as English football's first what?
Show answer
£1 million player. Nottingham Forest paid the fee, and Francis repaid it by scoring the winner in that season's European Cup final.
Birmingham City's fierce rivalry, the Second City derby, is with which club?
Show answer
Aston Villa. The two clubs are barely three miles apart in the same city, and the fixture is among the most heated in England.
Who is Birmingham City's record goalscorer?
Show answer
Joe Bradford. Bradford scored 267 goals between the wars, a tally no Birmingham player has come near since.
Which ground has been Birmingham City's home since 1906?
Show answer
St Andrew's. All four grounds are in the West Midlands, but only St Andrew's belongs to Birmingham City.
Which goalkeeper holds Birmingham City's record for appearances?
Show answer
Gil Merrick. Merrick made over 550 appearances and also played in goal for England at two World Cups.
Birmingham City were founded in 1875 under what name?
Show answer
Small Heath Alliance. Formed by cricketers from the Small Heath district, the club became Birmingham in 1905 and Birmingham City in 1943.
Karren Brady became Birmingham City's managing director in 1993 at what notable age?
Show answer
23. She was the youngest managing director of a UK plc at the time and later took a senior role at West Ham.
Birmingham City reached two consecutive European finals in the late 1950s and early 1960s in which competition?
Show answer
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They lost the 1960 and 1961 finals, having become the first English club side to reach a European final.
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