Chris Baird

Christopher Patrick "Chris" Baird (born 25 February 1982 in Rasharkin, County Antrim) is a Northern Ireland national football team association football. He is a defender (football) who currently plays for Fulham F.C..

Career

Early life

Baird went to school at Saint Patrick's Primary School, Rasharkin, before completing secondary education at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Ballymoney.

Southampton

Baird started his career at Northern Irish club, Ballymena United F.C., before moving to Southampton F.C. as a young player for £100,000.

Baird made his debut for Southampton on 22 March 2003 as a late substitute for David Prutton in a 2–2 draw at home with Aston Villa F.C.. His second appearance came in a 6–1 defeat at Arsenal F.C., when he came on after 26 minutes, with Arsenal already 5–0 up.

Baird's first start came on the final day of the 2002-03 in English football League season, in a 1–0 win at Manchester City F.C.. A week later he started for Southampton in the FA Cup Final 2003, also against Arsenal. Southampton lost the match 1–0, but Baird was voted as the Saints man of the match.

He subsequently made two successful loan spells away from Southampton. He spent two months at Walsall F.C., where he played regularly in the first-team, and a month at Watford F.C..

In the 2003-04 in English football season, Baird made only four league appearances for Southampton, and none at all in the following season. Following Southampton's Promotion and relegation from the Premier League, Baird re-established himself in the Southampton squad and was singled out for praise by Southampton manager George Burley. He started 16 league games in the 2005-06 in English football season.

In the first game of the 2006-07 in English football season, away to Derby County F.C. on 6 August 2006, he was drafted into the centre half position when Claus Lundekvam went off injured in the sixth minute. On 25 November 2006, in his 50th first-team game for Southampton, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 victory over Luton Town F.C.. He spent most of the season in central defence, and at the end of the season he was the runaway winner of the Saints Player of the Season award.

Fulham

Baird left Southampton on 12 July 2007 to move to Premier League club Fulham F.C. for £3.025m.
Baird was one of several Northern Irish players bought by Sanchez in 2007 and despite having a run of games in the first team he has failed to endear himself to the Fulham fans.

International career

In June 2003 Baird made his Northern Ireland national football team debut against Italy national football team in a 2–0 defeat. Since then he has been a regular member of the national side, despite playing little domestically between 2003 and 2005.