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Chris Burke (footballer)

Scottish footballer (born 1983)

Chris Burke (footballer)

Scottish footballer (born 1983)

FieldValue
nameChris Burke
imageChrisburkeforwiki.png
image_size225
captionWith Birmingham City in 2011 pre-season
fullnameChristopher Robert Burke
birth_date
birth_placeGlasgow, Scotland
currentclubBrentford B (assistant head coach)
positionWinger
youthyears11993–2000youthclubs1 = Celtic Boys Club
youthyears22000–2002youthclubs2 = Rangers
years12002–2009clubs1 = Rangerscaps1 = 96goals1 = 11
years22009–2011clubs2 = Cardiff Citycaps2 = 102goals2 = 15
years32011–2014clubs3 = Birmingham Citycaps3 = 131goals3 = 25
years42014–2016clubs4 = Nottingham Forestcaps4 = 50goals4 = 6
years52016clubs5 = → Rotherham United (loan)caps5 = 5goals5 = 2
years62016–2017clubs6 = Ross Countycaps6 = 6goals6 = 1
years72017–2022clubs7 = Kilmarnockcaps7 = 147goals7 = 21
totalcaps537totalgoals = 81
nationalyears12004–2005nationalteam1 = Scotland U21
nationalcaps12nationalgoals1 = 0
nationalyears22009nationalteam2 = Scotland B
nationalcaps21nationalgoals2 = 0
nationalyears32006–2014nationalteam3 = Scotlandnationalcaps3 = 7nationalgoals3 = 2
manageryears12022–2025
managerclubs1Kilmarnock (reserve, U19, U18)

Christopher Robert Burke (born 2 December 1983) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player who is currently a reserve team coach at Kilmarnock. He primarily played as a right-winger, but also played on the left wing.

Burke began his career with Scottish Premier League club Rangers, playing in 131 games, but without establishing himself as a regular first team player. He then played 118 matches over two-and-a-half seasons at Championship club Cardiff City, followed by 155 matches over three seasons at the same level for Birmingham City. He then made 50 league appearances over two seasons for Nottingham Forest. He left Forest after a brief loan spell with Rotherham United. Burke returned to Scottish football in September 2016, signing for Ross County. After one season there he signed for Kilmarnock, where he made nearly 150 league appearances across five seasons.

Burke was capped by Scotland seven times at full international level, and scored two goals on his Scotland debut, a Kirin Cup match against Bulgaria in 2006. In addition to this, he has also appeared once for the Scotland B team, and twice for the Scotland under-21 team.

After retiring as a player in 2022, Burke was appointed reserve, U18 and intermediates coach at Kilmarnock. He progressed into the roles of U19 head coach and Head of Development. Burke was appointed assistant head coach of Brentford B in October 2025.

Club career

Rangers

Born in Glasgow and brought up in the city's Gorbals district, Burke is a product of Rangers' youth system having joined on 5 July 2000, but he had previously played for Celtic Boys Club. He first broke into the Rangers first team in the 2001–02 season and scored on his début against Kilmarnock on 20 March 2002. He became a regular player in the Rangers squad and was involved in the club's 2003–04 Champions League campaign. In the opening game of the 2004–05 season at Aberdeen, Burke fainted on the pitch and was out of action for almost the whole season with a mysterious virus.

However, he came back strongly and played in most Rangers games in 2005–06, including vital Champions League games against Internazionale, Porto and Villarreal. He was voted as both Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year, while also picking up an accolade from John Greig. Burke was injured against Celtic on 23 September 2006, damaging ligaments in his left shoulder in a challenge with Aiden McGeady. The injury required an operation and Burke was ruled out of action for an estimated three months.

On 25 January 2007, Burke signed a new contract with Rangers keeping him at the club until 2009. After being frozen out of the first team squad for the first half of the 2007–08 season, Burke returned to replace the injured Nacho Novo and DaMarcus Beasley, keeping his place in the side until April 2008, when he himself was injured in a Scottish Cup match against St Johnstone.

Cardiff City

Playing for Cardiff City, 2010

After making just two appearances for Rangers during the first half of the 2008–09 season, Burke left the club on 9 January to sign for Football League Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer, linking up with former Rangers teammates Gavin Rae and Ross McCormack. He made his debut on 17 January when he replaced Peter Whittingham after 45 minutes of a 1–1 draw with Birmingham City, and scored his first goal for the club on 21 April during a 2–2 draw with Charlton Athletic.

Burke scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season on 16 September, in a 1–0 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium. His second, two weeks later, came in a 6–1 thrashing of Derby County at the Cardiff City Stadium. In December, he scored in three consecutive matches, including winning goals against Preston North End and Middlesbrough, On 23 May 2011, Burke left Cardiff City after failing to agree a new contract.

Birmingham City

Training with Birmingham City, 2011

On 8 June 2011, Burke signed a pre-contract agreement with fellow Championship club Birmingham City. He joined the club formally on a two-year deal on 1 July, having left Cardiff on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling. He made his Birmingham debut on the opening day of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Derby County, and came close to equalising in the second half when his shot after a fine solo run beat the goalkeeper but rebounded back into play off the post. Burke was part of the starting eleven in Birmingham's first match in major European competition for nearly 50 years, the Europa League play-off round first leg against Portuguese club Nacional, which finished goalless. He featured in 61 of the club's 62 competitive games as they reached the play-offs, scoring 14 goals and making 19 assists, and won the club's Player of the Year award, as well as the Players' and Junior Blues' Player of the Year awards.

At the end of the 2012–13 season, the club took up their option to extend Burke's contract for a further year. He left the club when that contract expired.

Nottingham Forest

Burke signed a two-year deal with Championship club Nottingham Forest on 29 July 2014. He scored on his debut, curling the second goal in from the edge of the box in the 30th minute of a 2–0 win over Blackpool in Forest's first game of the season, and started Forest's first eight league games of the new season. and he also scored in his next two appearances, against Lancashire clubs Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers.

Rotherham United loan

Burke joined fellow Championship club Rotherham United on 22 January 2016 on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut the following day against Cardiff City,

On his return to Nottingham Forest, Burke was released at the end of his contract.

Ross County

In September 2016, Burke signed a contract to the end of the 2016–17 season with Scottish Premiership club Ross County. His time there was again hampered by the effects of a virus.

Kilmarnock

Burke signed a one-year contract with Kilmarnock in July 2017. On 25 October he scored a stoppage-time goal to earn his side a point in a league match away to former club Rangers. He signed a further one-year contract with Kilmarnock on 22 June 2018. His second goal for the club came eleven months after his first: a "brilliant long-range howitzer" to level the scores in a home league fixture against Celtic on 23 September 2018, which Kilmarnock won 2–1. He scored against Rangers again on the final day of the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership season, as Killie secured third place, their highest position in over 50 years.

Burke left Kilmarnock after the 2021–22 season, in which the club won promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, but then returned as a reserve, U18 and intermediates coach.

International career

Burke won his first Scotland cap on 11 May 2006 as a substitute against Bulgaria in the Kirin Cup and scored twice in a 5–1 victory.

After six years without international recognition, Burke was named in Gordon Strachan's first squad in January 2013. According to Strachan, "Chris was fantastic in the Europa League at a good level, he has a maturity about his play now. In the international set-up you need to be able to beat people by passing or eliminating people by going past them. He can certainly do the second part and is getting better at the first. International defences are so good, you need people like that."

Other ventures

Along with Curtis Davies and Gavin Rae, Burke co-founded and was a director of the clothing company Seven One Zero, which was voluntarily dissolved in 2018.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTotal961192711900013114Total102157140005011816Total131258260812015528Total50610300000546Total14721111162204018024Career total5378136636329111064991
Rangers2001–02Scottish Premier League2100000021
2002–03Scottish Premier League0000000000
2003–04Scottish Premier League203102130264
2004–05Scottish Premier League120001030160
2005–06Scottish Premier League273200060353
2006–07Scottish Premier League222101050292
2007–08Scottish Premier League112523020214
2008–09Scottish Premier League20000020
Cardiff City2008–09Championship14120161
2009–10Championship4493120305210
2010–11Championship445202020505
Birmingham City2011–12Championship4613401081206114
2012–13Championship4182020458
2013–14Championship4442230496
Nottingham Forest2014–15Championship4161020446
2015–16Championship900010100
Rotherham United (loan)2015–16Championship5252
Ross County2016–17Scottish Premiership61000061
Kilmarnock2017–18Scottish Premiership2011041252
2018–19Scottish Premiership3553140426
2019–20Scottish Premiership265202020325
2020–21Scottish Premiership379301020439
2021–22Scottish Championship291205120382

International

References

  1. {{Hugman. 22443
  2. "Profiles: Chris Burke: U21 Squad Matches". Scottish Football Association.
  3. "Profiles: Chris Burke: B Squad Matches". Scottish Football Association.
  4. McClymont, Scott. (11 July 2022). "Burkie is Back".
  5. (19 October 2025). "Chris Burke to depart coaching role".
  6. (20 October 2025). "Rangers and Birmingham City hero 'set' for Premier League coaching chance".
  7. Speirs, Graham. (8 December 2018). "Chris Burke: I gave up a part of the life I wanted to have my career". [[The Times]].
  8. Thomson, David. (October 2004). "The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2004/05". CRE8.
  9. (20 March 2002). "Rangers trounce Kilmarnock". BBC Sport.
  10. (7 August 2004). "Aberdeen 0–0 Rangers". BBC Sport.
  11. (25 August 2004). "Virus rules out Burke". BBC Sport.
  12. (23 November 2005). "Porto 1–1 Rangers".
  13. (22 February 2006). "Rangers 2 – 2 Villarreal". The Guardian.
  14. (12 May 2006). "B team make their case Boyd and Burke add lustre and goals to impressive Scotland". The Herald.
  15. (27 September 2006). "Rangers reeling over Burke injury". BBC Sport.
  16. Pearson, James. (25 January 2007). "Burke pens Gers extension". Sky Sports.
  17. Gray, Lisa. (1 January 2008). "Future looks bright for Burke". 365 Media Group.
  18. Phillips, Terry. (9 January 2009). "Chris Burke signs for Cardiff City". Western Mail.
  19. (10 January 2009). "Burke sees Cardiff as fresh start". BBC Sport.
  20. (24 January 2009). "Burke is up for the City challenge". BBC Sport.
  21. (16 September 2009). "Reading 0–1 Cardiff". BBC Sport.
  22. (8 June 2011). "Blues bag Burke". Birmingham City F.C..
  23. Jolly, Richard. (7 August 2011). "Derby 2 Birmingham 2: Rocket shot piles on misery for trouble-hit Birmingham". Daily Express.
  24. Tattum, Colin. (19 August 2011). "Nacional 0, Birmingham City 0". Birmingham Mail.
  25. "Birmingham Squad: 2011/2012".
  26. Tattum, Colin. (1 May 2012). "Chris Burke cleans up at annual awards dinner at the ICC in Birmingham". Birmingham Mail.
  27. (3 May 2013). "Championship: Birmingham extend Chris Burke's contract by 12 months". Sky Sports.
  28. (1 July 2014). "Farewell to Ziggy and Burke". Birmingham City F.C..
  29. (29 July 2014). "Chris Burke: Nottingham Forest sign ex-Birmingham winger". BBC Sport.
  30. Phillips, Owen. (9 August 2014). "Nottm Forest 2–0 Blackpool". BBC Sport.
  31. (11 February 2015). "Nottm Forest 3–0 Wigan". BBC Sport.
  32. (22 January 2016). "Millers swoop for Burke". Rotherham United F.C..
  33. (30 January 2016). "Rotherham United 1–4 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport.
  34. Richardson, Nick. (25 May 2016). "Retained List 2016". Nottingham Forest F.C..
  35. (27 September 2016). "Ross County sign Scotland winger Chris Burke". BBC Sport.
  36. (19 July 2017). "Kilmarnock: Chris Burke eager to put career fears behind him". BBC Sport.
  37. (25 October 2017). "Rangers 1–1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport.
  38. (22 June 2018). "Chris Burke: Kilmarnock midfielder signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport.
  39. Lyall, Jamie. (23 September 2018). "Kilmarnock 2–1 Celtic". BBC Sport.
  40. Lindsay, Clive. (19 May 2019). "Kilmarnock 2–1 Rangers: Steve Clarke's side finish third to qualify for Europe". BBC Sport.
  41. (11 May 2006). "Scotland 5–1 Bulgaria". BBC Sport.
  42. (31 January 2013). "Strachan names Wallace, Burke, McCormack in first Scotland squad". The Herald.
  43. Marshall, Tyrone. (26 November 2016). "Burnley defender taking hands-on role after investment in developing clothing label". Lancashire Telegraph.
  44. "Seven One Zero Clothing Limited: Filing history".
  45. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2001
  46. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2002
  47. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2003
  48. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2004
  49. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2005
  50. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2006
  51. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2007
  52. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2008
  53. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2009
  54. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2010
  55. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2011
  56. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2012
  57. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2013
  58. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2014
  59. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2015
  60. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2016
  61. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2017
  62. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2018
  63. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2019
  64. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2020
  65. {{soccerbase season. 30538. 2021
  66. "Chris Burke: A Squad". Scottish Football Association.
  67. McGuigan, Thomas. (16 March 2008). "Dundee Utd 2–2 Rangers (Rangers win 3–2 on penalties)". BBC Sport.
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