Birmingham United FC

Ian Fairbrother

Director of Coaching

U.S.S.F. "A" Coaching License

Ian played professional soccer for sixteen years. He began as a youth playing for Manchester United and the Blackburn Rovers team in England. In addition, he was also selected to play on England’s Junior National team at the age of 15. His favorite highlight was scoring a penalty for England against Holland in front of 100,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium and playing at Olympic Stadium in Berlin against Germany. He went on to sign his first professional contract with Liverpool F.C. of the English Premier League at the age of 16 and continued to play for them for four years. Ian came to the United States to play for Fort Lauderdale and Miami of the North American Soccer League (NASL). After a few seasons, he signed on to the Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and played indoor for the next ten years. This period included stints with the Detroit Rockers, Detroit Neon, and the Detroit Safari. While playing for the Detroit Safari he was asked to become Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season after suffering an injury in the 1997-98 season. Although he played many years as a professional soccer player, Ian enjoys coaching youth soccer just as much as he enjoyed playing professionally. Ian currently has a USSF “A” coaching license and is a current member of the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) in England. Ian believes in coaching education courses and encourages all BUFC staff coaches to keep current with their coaching ideas, philosophies and education.

Ian scores from the penalty spot at Wembley Stadium