PLAYER PROFILE

Maik Taylor

Position: Goal

Height: 6'5

Weight: 13st 8lbs

Date of Birth: 1971-09-04 Hildeshein, Germany

Maik Taylor

Taylor first signed for Fulham Football Club in 1997 from Southampton at a cost of £700,000. The then manager Kevin Keegan rated him as the "best taker of a cross in Britain". Taylor proved to be a quality signing for the Cottagers and helped them to the Second Division title, followed the year after by the First and thus promotion to the Premiership. He was instrumental in their rise from the lower divisions.

Despite the signing of Edwin van der Sar in the summer of 2001, Maik signed a 4-year extension to his contract just a week later. Taylor had not allowed the signing to deflect him from his goal of winning back his first-team place, and had fully committed himself to Fulham to the end of the 2004/05 season.

Having made 28 appearances in the Fulham goalkeepers jersey during the 2002/03 campaign Taylor has proven he is capable of playing at the top. He played a huge part in keeping the Cottagers in the top-flight courtesy of an injury to Edwin van der Sar.

However, with Van der Sar returning to full fitness and a new season underway, Taylor found himself second choice again and opted to leave Fulham, feeling he is fully capable of first team football but not likely to get it at Loftus Road. So, he joined Birmingham on a season-loan deal, and impressed Steve Bruce enough to earn a permanent move in March 2004.

In his first full, official season for the Blues, Taylor proved himself a good stopper between the Birmingham sticks. He kept 10 clean sheets in 42 appearances all in all.

He was also an important figure in the Northern Ireland squad, as they struggled in a World Cup 2006 qualifying group which included England and Wales.

He stuck by the club when they were relagated at the end of the 2005/06 season and his experience and loyalty proved to be vital for the Blues as they were promoted back into the top flight after just one season.

He continued his impressive form in to the 2007/08 season and he started all but a handful of games in the Premier League but this was not enough to prevent his side from suffering relegation to the Championship.

Despite reported interest from Premier League clubs the Northern Ireland international stayed at St Andrews for a crack at promotion at the first attempt once more and it paid off.

In the 2008/09 season he cemented his place as the club's number one, playing all but one of the 46 league games and his vast experience proved crucial in securing second place and promotion.

Taylor will be hoping that it's third time lucky as the Blues look to avoid a third relegation from the top flight in five years.