11 ex-Birmingham City players who are incredibly still playing in 2026 | OneFootball

Blues fans may be unaware that some high-profile names once associated with their club are still playing years later

Birmingham City are certainly looking upwards at present under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management, but it is not hard to forget the club's recently troubled past, both on and off the pitch.

Whilst Blues' American investors have grand plans for a 62,000-seater stadium and Sports Quarter complex to be built by 2031, the Second City outfit had only been languishing in the Championship's bottom-half for several seasons just a few short years ago, before eventually falling into League One in May 2024.

Although Chris Davies' team responded in record-breaking fashion, it has still been 15 years since Birmingham were last a Premier League side, as their relegation came months after a heroic EFL Cup triumph over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

Yet whilst supporters certainly have their current favourites at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, it is also easy to reminisce over former cult heroes.

With that in mind, Football League World have looked at 11 ex-Bluenoses who are still playing this year.

Neil Etheridge - Buriram United

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Filipino international goalkeeper, Neil Etheridge, is the first man to feature on this list, as the experienced goalkeeper currently plies his trade for Thai League One outfit, Buriram United.

The 36-year-old moved to St. Andrew's in the summer of 2020 after leaving Cardiff City, who he'd previously achieved promotion to the Premier League with, immediately becoming Aitor Karanka's first-choice goalkeeper.

During his time with Birmingham, Etheridge played 79 times but was only able to record 19 clean sheets, which, in a way, reflects the club's previous situation before he departed in June 2024 on a free transfer after the chaotic relegation season in which six permanent or temporary managers were installed in the dugout.

He recently surpassed the 100-game mark for his current employers, though, who are also involved in the Asian Champions League for this season.

John Ruddy - Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Next up is another seasoned EFL goalkeeper in the form of John Ruddy, who recently returned to Birmingham's local rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, following their relegation from the Premier League.

The 39-year-old needs no introduction to Championship followers, having won three promotions to the top-flight throughout his lengthy career, although his time in B9 was certainly one of mixed fortunes.

Ruddy kept 14 clean sheets in his first season under John Eustace before continuing to hold down the 'number 1' position in 2023/24 despite Birmingham's fall into the third tier, with his 11 shutouts coming in vain.

He then departed for Newcastle United but is back at Molineux for now, having recently been in the headlines for meeting ex-Wolves teammates, Romain Saiss and Rúben Neves after Cesar Peixoto's side's 1-0 win in the Black Country derby over West Bromwich Albion.

Kevin Long - Waterford

Kevin Long featured for a whole host of EFL clubs during his career which is still going strong at 36, with the Irish defender currently turning out for League of Ireland side, Waterford FC.

The centre-back arrived at Birmingham in January 2023, bringing a long association with Burnley to an end, immediately becoming a regular fixture in John Eustace's side despite a lack of prior gametime.

After seeing an initial six-month loan deal expire, Long signed a fresh one-year contract at the time of Knighthead's takeover and continued to impress alongside Dion Sanderson before Eustace was controversially sacked and replaced by Wayne Rooney.

With Birmingham's struggles mounting, Long departed during Tony Mowbray's brief spell for MLS side, Toronto FC, playing 58 times for the Canadian club before returning to his home country back in March.

Mitch Hancox - Morpeth Town

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Mitch Hancox came through the academy setup at Blues after hailing from nearby Solihull, eventually breaking into the first-team fold at St. Andrew's in the 2012/13 season under Lee Clark.

After making 20 of his 40 overall appearances for the club in that particular campaign, the left-back saw his gametime diminish over time, and he was eventually loaned out to Crawley Town for a brief period of the 2015/16 season.

Having been released by Gary Rowett, the 32-year-old has gone on to have a respectable career on the lower-league scene, with some of his more high-profile clubs being MK Dons, York City and hometown club, Solihull Moors.

After being released by Spennymoor Town at the end of last season, Hancox was signed by Morpeth Town on a permanent basis in June, where he is targeting promotion from the Northern Premier League Division One East.

Stephen Gleeson - Biggleswade United

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Stephen Gleeson was signed by the aforementioned Clark on a free transfer in 2014 after a previously impressive spell with MK Dons, although his best spell at St. Andrew's certainly came after the 53-year-old's dismissal months later.

The Dublin native made 125 appearances for the Second City outfit in three-and-a-half years' worth of service, which included a five-goal campaign in 2015/16 as Birmingham finished 10th in the Championship.

Following Rowett's controversial exit in December 2016, the midfielder wasn't as heavily involved in the starting lineup and moved to Ipswich Town in January 2018, before going on to play for the likes of Aberdeen, Solihull Moors, Hemel Hempstead Town and Hitchin Town.

However, like Hancox, he still remains on the non-league circuit, recently signing for Biggleswade United of the Spartan South Midlands Football League.

David Davis - Kidderminster Harriers

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David Davis remains a cult hero in B9 in the eyes of many, and is currently part of the Kidderminster Harriers side that has made an impressive start to the National League season.

The central midfielder came through Wolves' academy and even had a brief taste of Premier League football early in his career, before joining Blues in 2014.

The 35-year-old appeared in 194 outings for the club between then and his departure in January 2021, with his equalising goal in the Second City derby against Aston Villa in October 2016 proving to be a standout moment.

He also netted against his former club in front of the South Bank months later, but over time, was used sparsely by various managers who came and went post-Rowett.

Davis then spent time with Charlton Athletic, Shrewsbury Town, Forest Green Rovers and Solihull Moors, before moving to Aggborough in July 2024, making over 85 appearances for the Harriers in the process.

Andros Townsend - PT Prachuap

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Andros Townsend's spell at St. Andrew's on loan from Tottenham Hotspur is sometimes forgotten about, even though it came during Birmingham's last play-off campaign.

The winger moved to the West Midlands side a year after making his senior debut at White Hart Lane, although it came after the briefest of temporary stints with then-Championship rivals, Leeds United.

Townsend registered three assists in just 16 appearances for Blues as they eventually lost out to Blackpool in the play-off semi-finals under Chris Hughton, before going on to make 291 Premier League appearances and amass 13 England caps.

This year, the 35-year-old has been in the headlines for his eating habits whilst covering the FIFA World Cup 2026 before recently escaping a serious injury after colliding with a pitch roller for Thai side, PT Prachuap, who he signed for in August.

Ravel Morrison - Arabian Falcons

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Ravel Morrison was once one of English football's most highly-rated prospects, but the 33-year-old's career has, in reality, followed an extremely different path.

The attacking midfielder was loaned in to Birmingham by Lee Clark for the 2012/13 season from Manchester United, but was initially criticised by the former boss for his application.

During his temporary stint, the Mancunian scored three and provided as many assists in just 30 appearances, before later featuring for the likes of West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers, Cardiff City and Derby County among others.

Since leaving Pride Park in 2022, the Red Devils academy graduate has played for D.C United and two clubs in Dubai, with his current employers being Arabian Falcons, who are also managed by former Championship title winner, Jonjo Shelvey.

Kyle Lafferty - Forth Wanderers

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Next up is Northern Ireland international striker, Kyle Lafferty.

It is fair to say that the striker's time in the West Midlands is mostly forgotten about, as he was loaned in on a short-term basis from Norwich City in the final weeks of the 2015/16 Championship season.

The one-time Rangers hotshot had flattered to deceive at Carrow Road and whilst on loan at Turkish side, Caykur Rizespor, and failed to have any impact on Blues' season under Gary Rowett, scoring once in just six appearances against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Lafferty, 39, was most recently transferred to Forth Wanderers of the West of Scotland Football League from Johnston Burgh, who stated in an announcement that he departed "with his place in club history secured."

Federico Macheda - Asteras Tripolis

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Italian striker, Federico Macheda, is also still playing at the age of 35 for Greek Super League outfit, Asteras Tripolis.

Macheda burst onto the scene at Manchester United with a famous late double against Birmingham's bitter rivals, Aston Villa, in 2009, but failed to kick on at Old Trafford - instead being loaned out on several occasions.

Having spent time with QPR and Doncaster Rovers in the second tier beforehand, the forward moved to B9 on a temporary basis in January 2014 as they looked to kick on under Lee Clark.

Whilst Blues' overall form would nosedive, leaving them to produce an infamous great escape act at Bolton Wanderers on the final day of the campaign, Macheda couldn't have done any more himself as he scored 10 goals in just 18 appearances.

He has been with his current side since the beginning of the 2024/25 season, scoring 17 times in 67 appearances to-date.