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Birmingham City

Heartbreak#17910.0

Birmingham, Birmingham · England · Championship

Major cups
2
last 2011

Power-ranking history

Hover a season for its rank and score
Rank (1 = best)1450Score (per-season normalised)0.00.51.059/6064/6569/7074/7579/8084/8589/9094/9599/0004/0509/10

Against expectation

Every English top-flight match this club has played, scored against the odds an Elo rating gave it before kick-off. Over 57 seasons from 1894-95 to 2010-11 it has fallen short of them by −19.3 match points.

Birmingham City: surplus against expectation, 1894-95 to 2010-111894-95: −2.3 league points vs expected (25 on 27.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.1 match points1895-96: −3.8 league points vs expected (20 on 23.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.9 match points1901-02: −0.5 league points vs expected (30 on 30.4, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.2 match points1903-04: +0.5 league points vs expected (30 on 29.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.3 match points1904-05: +4.6 league points vs expected (39 on 34.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.3 match points1905-06: +3.1 league points vs expected (41 on 37.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.6 match points1906-07: +1.0 league points vs expected (38 on 37.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points1907-08: −4.7 league points vs expected (30 on 34.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.3 match points1921-22: −1.2 league points vs expected (37 on 38.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.6 match points1922-23: +0.7 league points vs expected (37 on 36.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.3 match points1923-24: +2.5 league points vs expected (39 on 36.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.3 match points1924-25: +6.5 league points vs expected (46 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.2 match points1925-26: −0.9 league points vs expected (40 on 40.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.5 match points1926-27: −2.2 league points vs expected (38 on 40.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.1 match points1927-28: +3.0 league points vs expected (41 on 38.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.5 match points1928-29: +0.2 league points vs expected (40 on 39.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.1 match points1929-30: +1.5 league points vs expected (41 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.7 match points1930-31: −3.5 league points vs expected (36 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.8 match points1931-32: +4.5 league points vs expected (44 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.3 match points1932-33: −1.8 league points vs expected (39 on 40.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.9 match points1933-34: −3.6 league points vs expected (36 on 39.6, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.8 match points1934-35: −1.7 league points vs expected (36 on 37.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.8 match points1935-36: +1.8 league points vs expected (41 on 39.2, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.9 match points1936-37: +2.2 league points vs expected (41 on 38.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.1 match points1937-38: −2.9 league points vs expected (38 on 40.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.5 match points1938-39: −5.3 league points vs expected (32 on 37.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.7 match points1948-49: −1.3 league points vs expected (37 on 38.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.6 match points1949-50: −5.5 league points vs expected (28 on 33.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.8 match points1955-56: +5.5 league points vs expected (45 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.8 match points1956-57: −5.2 league points vs expected (39 on 44.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.6 match points1957-58: +0.4 league points vs expected (39 on 38.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.2 match points1958-59: +5.4 league points vs expected (46 on 40.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.7 match points1959-60: −4.3 league points vs expected (36 on 40.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.2 match points1960-61: −4.7 league points vs expected (34 on 38.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.4 match points1961-62: +1.9 league points vs expected (38 on 36.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.0 match points1962-63: −3.1 league points vs expected (33 on 36.1, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.6 match points1963-64: −3.7 league points vs expected (29 on 32.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.9 match points1964-65: −3.8 league points vs expected (27 on 30.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.9 match points1972-73: +5.9 league points vs expected (42 on 36.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.9 match points1973-74: −0.4 league points vs expected (37 on 37.4, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.2 match points1974-75: −1.3 league points vs expected (37 on 38.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1975-76: −2.9 league points vs expected (33 on 35.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.5 match points1976-77: +0.2 league points vs expected (38 on 37.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.1 match points1977-78: +3.1 league points vs expected (41 on 37.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.5 match points1978-79: −12.5 league points vs expected (22 on 34.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −6.2 match points1980-81: +2.2 league points vs expected (38 on 35.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.1 match points1981-82: −1.5 league points vs expected (44 on 45.5, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.2 match points1982-83: +4.8 league points vs expected (50 on 45.2, 3 for a win) · bar height +2.0 match points1983-84: −1.1 league points vs expected (48 on 49.1, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.3 match points1985-86: −15.7 league points vs expected (29 on 44.7, 3 for a win) · bar height −6.1 match points2002-03: +2.6 league points vs expected (48 on 45.4, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.7 match points2003-04: +1.1 league points vs expected (50 on 48.9, 3 for a win) · bar height +1.0 match points2004-05: −2.3 league points vs expected (45 on 47.3, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.4 match points2005-06: −8.4 league points vs expected (34 on 42.4, 3 for a win) · bar height −2.8 match points2007-08: −5.6 league points vs expected (35 on 40.6, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.6 match points2009-10: +6.0 league points vs expected (50 on 44.0, 3 for a win) · bar height +2.2 match points2010-11: −5.0 league points vs expected (39 on 44.0, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points
1894-95one bar per season · height in match points · hover for that season2010-11
Best season against expectation
1924-25 +6.5 league pts
46 points on 39.5 expected as Birmingham
Worst season against expectation
1985-86 −15.7 league pts
29 points on 44.7 expected as Birmingham City

Season points use that season’s own scoring, two for a win before 1981-82 and three after; the bars use match points so the whole series is comparable. Played as Small Heath, then Birmingham, then Birmingham City.The rating only starts telling you much after about 1960. Before that, knowing the era’s home-and-away split is almost as good as knowing the teams.

Birmingham against expectation →How this is measured →

Greatest games

Birmingham City's top matches by the club Game Score: closeness, stakes, quality and upset over one unified rating of league and European play.All-time board.

#DateStageResultScore
11905-04-15First DivisionAL 1-2 v Evertongame score 76.0
21931-04-25FA Cup · FinalNL 1-2 v West Bromwich Albiongame score 74.0
31961-04-19Fairs Cup · Semifinals · 1st legAW 2-1 v Internazionalegame score 68.4
42011-02-27League Cup · FinalNW 2-1 v Arsenalgame score 67.9
51955-03-12FA Cup · QuarterfinalsHL 0-1 v Manchester Citygame score 67.2
61953-03-09FA Cup · QuarterfinalsHL 0-1 v Tottenham Hotspurgame score 66.0
71951-03-14FA Cup · SemifinalsNL 1-2 v Blackpoolgame score 65.5
81954-01-09FA Cup · Round 3AW 2-1 v Wolverhampton Wanderersgame score 64.3
91935-03-02FA Cup · QuarterfinalsAL 2-3 v Burnleygame score 64.0
101929-03-09First Division · Birmingham DerbyAW 2-1 v Aston Villagame score 63.9

Footprint

Tiers played
L1, L2, L3
Top-flight (L1) seasons
57
Lower-tier league seasons
67
First season
1893
Most recent season
2026
RivalriesBirmingham Derbyvs Aston Villatwo-way

The Heartbreak Index10.0 · #179

The Damned · Major trophy, 2011

10.0
Heartbreak
#179
of 1,139 clubs
#99
in Football
7.4
agony · 2.6 despair
The clocks
  • Major trophy since 20113.6
  • Major final appearance since 20111.8
Heaviest wounds

relegated from the top flight, 2011 · relegated from the top flight, 2006 · relegated from the top flight, 2008 · relegated from the top flight, 1939

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

Season-by-season

Most recent season first. Covers Levels 1 through 5 of the English pyramid. Rows tagged "national playoff" are pre-modern formats where the workbook records only playoff participants, not round-robin standings.

2027
Championship (2) · P10● live
7 P · 2-4-1 · 10:9 · +1
10
pts
2026
Championship (2) · P10
46 P · 17-13-16 · 57:56 · +1
64
pts
2025
League One (3) · P1↑
46 P · 34-9-3 · 84:31 · +53
111
pts
2024
Championship (2) · P22↓
46 P · 13-11-22 · 50:65 · -15
50
pts
2023
Championship (2) · P17
46 P · 14-11-21 · 47:58 · -11
53
pts
2022
Championship (2) · P20
46 P · 11-14-21 · 50:75 · -25
47
pts
2021
Championship (2) · P18
46 P · 13-13-20 · 37:61 · -24
52
pts
2020
Championship (2) · P20
46 P · 12-14-20 · 54:75 · -21
50
pts
2019
Championship (2) · P17
46 P · 14-19-13 · 64:58 · +6
52
pts
2018
Championship (2) · P19
46 P · 13-7-26 · 38:68 · -30
46
pts
2017
Championship (2) · P19
46 P · 13-14-19 · 45:64 · -19
53
pts
2016
Championship (2) · P10
46 P · 16-15-15 · 53:49 · +4
63
pts
Show all 125 seasons
2015
Championship (2) · P10
46 P · 16-15-15 · 54:64 · -10
63
pts
2014
Championship (2) · P21
46 P · 11-11-24 · 58:74 · -16
44
pts
2013
Championship (2) · P12
46 P · 15-16-15 · 63:69 · -6
61
pts
2012
Championship (2) · P4PO
46 P · 20-16-10 · 78:51 · +27
76
pts
EL
2011
Premier League (1) · P18↓
38 P · 8-15-15 · 37:58 · -21
39
pts
Lg CupEL
2010
Premier League (1) · P9
38 P · 13-11-14 · 38:47 · -9
50
pts
2009
Championship (2) · P2↑
46 P · 23-14-9 · 54:37 · +17
83
pts
2008
Premier League (1) · P19↓
38 P · 8-11-19 · 46:62 · -16
35
pts
2007
Championship (2) · P2↑
46 P · 26-8-12 · 67:42 · +25
86
pts
2006
Premier League (1) · P18↓
38 P · 8-10-20 · 28:50 · -22
34
pts
2005
Premier League (1) · P12
38 P · 11-12-15 · 40:46 · -6
45
pts
2004
Premier League (1) · P10
38 P · 12-14-12 · 43:48 · -5
50
pts
2003
Premier League (1) · P13
38 P · 13-9-16 · 41:49 · -8
48
pts
2002
First Division (2) · P5↑
46 P · 21-13-12 · 70:49 · +21
76
pts
2001
First Division (2) · P5PO
46 P · 23-9-14 · 59:48 · +11
78
pts
Lg Cup
2000
First Division (2) · P5PO
46 P · 22-11-13 · 65:44 · +21
77
pts
1999
First Division (2) · P4PO
46 P · 23-12-11 · 66:37 · +29
81
pts
1998
First Division (2) · P7
46 P · 19-17-10 · 60:35 · +25
74
pts
1997
First Division (2) · P10
46 P · 17-15-14 · 52:48 · +4
66
pts
1996
First Division (2) · P15
46 P · 15-13-18 · 61:64 · -3
58
pts
Lg Cup SF
1995
Second Division (3) · P1↑
46 P · 25-14-7 · 84:37 · +47
89
pts
1994
First Division (2) · P22↓
46 P · 13-12-21 · 52:69 · -17
51
pts
1993
First Division (2) · P19
46 P · 13-12-21 · 50:72 · -22
51
pts
1992
Third Division (3) · P2↑
46 P · 23-12-11 · 69:52 · +17
81
pts
1991
Third Division (3) · P12
46 P · 16-17-13 · 45:49 · -4
65
pts
1990
Third Division (3) · P7
46 P · 18-12-16 · 60:59 · +1
66
pts
1989
Second Division (2) · P23↓
46 P · 8-11-27 · 31:76 · -45
35
pts
1988
Second Division (2) · P19
44 P · 11-15-18 · 41:66 · -25
48
pts
1987
Second Division (2) · P19
42 P · 11-17-14 · 47:59 · -12
50
pts
1986
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 8-5-29 · 30:73 · -43
29
pts
1985
Second Division (2) · P2↑
42 P · 25-7-10 · 59:33 · +26
82
pts
1984
First Division (1) · P20↓
42 P · 12-12-18 · 39:50 · -11
48
pts
1983
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 12-14-16 · 40:55 · -15
50
pts
1982
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 10-14-18 · 53:61 · -8
44
pts
1981
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 13-12-17 · 50:61 · -11
38
pts
1980
Second Division (2) · P3↑
42 P · 21-11-10 · 58:38 · +20
53
pts
1979
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 6-10-26 · 37:64 · -27
22
pts
1978
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 16-9-17 · 55:60 · -5
41
pts
1977
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 13-12-17 · 63:61 · +2
38
pts
1976
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-7-22 · 57:75 · -18
33
pts
1975
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 14-9-19 · 53:61 · -8
37
pts
FA SF
1974
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 12-13-17 · 52:64 · -12
37
pts
1973
First Division (1) · P10
42 P · 15-12-15 · 53:54 · -1
42
pts
1972
Second Division (2) · P2↑
42 P · 19-18-5 · 60:31 · +29
56
pts
FA SF
1971
Second Division (2) · P9
42 P · 17-12-13 · 58:48 · +10
46
pts
1970
Second Division (2) · P18
42 P · 11-11-20 · 51:78 · -27
33
pts
1969
Second Division (2) · P7
42 P · 18-8-16 · 73:59 · +14
44
pts
1968
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 19-14-9 · 83:51 · +32
52
pts
FA SF
1967
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 16-8-18 · 70:66 · +4
40
pts
Lg Cup SF
1966
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 16-9-17 · 70:75 · -5
41
pts
1965
First Division (1) · P22↓
42 P · 8-11-23 · 64:96 · -32
27
pts
1964
First Division (1) · P20
42 P · 11-7-24 · 54:92 · -38
29
pts
1963
First Division (1) · P20
42 P · 10-13-19 · 63:90 · -27
33
pts
Lg Cup
1962
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 14-10-18 · 65:81 · -16
38
pts
ICFC
1961
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 14-6-22 · 62:84 · -22
34
pts
ICFCICFC
1960
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-10-19 · 63:80 · -17
36
pts
ICFCICFC
1959
First Division (1) · P9
42 P · 20-6-16 · 84:68 · +16
46
pts
ICFCICFC
1958
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 14-11-17 · 76:89 · -13
39
pts
ICFCICFC
1957
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 15-9-18 · 69:69 · 0
39
pts
FA SFICFCICFC
1956
First Division (1) · P6
42 P · 18-9-15 · 75:57 · +18
45
pts
FAICFC
1955
Second Division (2) · P1↑
42 P · 22-10-10 · 92:47 · +45
54
pts
1954
Second Division (2) · P7
42 P · 18-11-13 · 78:58 · +20
47
pts
1953
Second Division (2) · P6
42 P · 19-10-13 · 71:66 · +5
48
pts
1952
Second Division (2) · P3
42 P · 21-9-12 · 67:56 · +11
51
pts
1951
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 20-9-13 · 64:53 · +11
49
pts
FA SF
1950
First Division (1) · P22↓
42 P · 7-14-21 · 31:67 · -36
28
pts
1949
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 11-15-16 · 36:38 · -2
37
pts
1948
Second Division (2) · P1↑
42 P · 22-15-5 · 55:24 · +31
59
pts
1947
Second Division (2) · P3
42 P · 25-5-12 · 74:33 · +41
55
pts
1940
Second Division (2)↓
as Birmingham · 3 P · 2-1-0 · 5:1 · +4
-
pts
1939
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 12-8-22 · 62:84 · -22
32
pts
1938
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 10-18-14 · 58:62 · -4
38
pts
1937
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 13-15-14 · 64:60 · +4
41
pts
1936
First Division (1) · P12
42 P · 15-11-16 · 61:63 · -2
41
pts
1935
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-10-19 · 63:81 · -18
36
pts
1934
First Division (1) · P20
42 P · 12-12-18 · 54:56 · -2
36
pts
1933
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 14-11-17 · 57:57 · 0
39
pts
1932
First Division (1) · P9
42 P · 18-8-16 · 78:67 · +11
44
pts
1931
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-10-19 · 55:70 · -15
36
pts
FA
1930
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 16-9-17 · 67:62 · +5
41
pts
1929
First Division (1) · P15
42 P · 15-10-17 · 68:77 · -9
40
pts
1928
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 13-15-14 · 70:75 · -5
41
pts
1927
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 17-4-21 · 64:73 · -9
38
pts
1926
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 16-8-18 · 66:81 · -15
40
pts
1925
First Division (1) · P8
42 P · 17-12-13 · 49:53 · -4
46
pts
1924
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 13-13-16 · 41:49 · -8
39
pts
1923
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 13-11-18 · 41:57 · -16
37
pts
1922
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 15-7-20 · 48:60 · -12
37
pts
1921
Second Division (2) · P1↑
as Birmingham · 42 P · 24-10-8 · 79:38 · +41
58
pts
1920
Second Division (2) · P3
as Birmingham · 42 P · 24-8-10 · 85:34 · +51
56
pts
1915
Second Division (2) · P6↓
as Birmingham · 38 P · 17-9-12 · 62:39 · +23
43
pts
1914
Second Division (2) · P14
as Birmingham · 38 P · 12-10-16 · 48:60 · -12
34
pts
1913
Second Division (2) · P3
as Birmingham · 38 P · 18-10-10 · 59:44 · +15
46
pts
1912
Second Division (2) · P12
as Birmingham · 38 P · 14-6-18 · 55:59 · -4
34
pts
1911
Second Division (2) · P16
as Birmingham · 38 P · 12-8-18 · 42:64 · -22
32
pts
1910
Second Division (2) · P20
as Birmingham · 38 P · 8-7-23 · 42:78 · -36
23
pts
1909
Second Division (2) · P11
as Birmingham · 38 P · 14-9-15 · 58:61 · -3
37
pts
1908
First Division (1) · P20↓
38 P · 9-12-17 · 40:60 · -20
30
pts
1907
First Division (1) · P9
38 P · 15-8-15 · 52:52 · 0
38
pts
1906
First Division (1) · P7
38 P · 17-7-14 · 65:59 · +6
41
pts
1905
First Division (1) · P7
34 P · 17-5-12 · 54:38 · +16
39
pts
1904
First Division (1) · P11
34 P · 11-8-15 · 39:52 · -13
30
pts
1903
Second Division (2) · P2↑
as Small Heath · 34 P · 24-3-7 · 74:36 · +38
51
pts
1902
First Division (1) · P17↓
34 P · 11-8-15 · 47:45 · +2
30
pts
1901
Second Division (2) · P2↑
as Small Heath · 34 P · 19-10-5 · 57:24 · +33
48
pts
1900
Second Division (2) · P3
as Small Heath · 34 P · 20-6-8 · 78:38 · +40
46
pts
1899
Second Division (2) · P8
as Small Heath · 34 P · 17-7-10 · 85:50 · +35
41
pts
1898
Second Division (2) · P6
as Small Heath · 30 P · 16-4-10 · 58:50 · +8
36
pts
1897
Second Division (2) · P4
as Small Heath · 30 P · 16-5-9 · 69:47 · +22
37
pts
1896
First Division (1) · P15↓
30 P · 8-4-18 · 39:79 · -40
20
pts
1895
First Division (1) · P12
30 P · 9-7-14 · 50:74 · -24
25
pts
1894
Second Division (2) · P2↑
as Small Heath · 28 P · 21-0-7 · 103:44 · +59
42
pts
1893
Second Division (2) · P1
as Small Heath · 22 P · 17-2-3 · 90:35 · +55
36
pts
Domestic Cup Finals

Most recent first. Every domestic cup final the club has played, including losses. Scheduled finals (date not yet passed) are flagged.

2011
League Cup
Won
2001
League Cup
Runner-up
1963
League Cup
Won
1956
FA Cup
Runner-up
1931
FA Cup
Runner-up
European competition appearances

Most recent first. One row per entry showing the deepest round reached. A Cup Winner badge marks tournaments the club won: gold for the European Cup / Champions League, silver for every other UEFA or Intercontinental trophy.

2011-12
Europa League(EL)
Round of 32 / qualifying
1961-62
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Round of 16
1960-61
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Final
1959-60
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Final
1958-59
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Quarter-final
1957-58
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Semi-final
1955-56
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Quarter-final