Odin Bailey

Odin Ohray Bailey (born 8 December 1999) is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for League Two club Forest Green Rovers, on loan from Birmingham City of the Championship. He spent time on loan at Gloucester City of the National League South in 2018 and at Forest Green Rovers in 2020. He has represented England at under-16 level.

Odin Bailey
Bailey with Birmingham City in 2019
Personal information
Full name Odin Ohray Bailey[1]
Date of birth (1999-12-08) 8 December 1999[2]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Forest Green Rovers
(on loan from Birmingham City)
Number 17
Youth career
200?–2016 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– Birmingham City 6 (1)
2018–2019 → Gloucester City (loan) 12 (2)
2020 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 5 (1)
2020– → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 18 (3)
National team
2014 England U16 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:40, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Bailey was born in Birmingham and lived in the Bartley Green district.[3][4] His father, Luke, was on the books of West Bromwich Albion as a youngster.[5] Bailey attended Priory School in Edgbaston.[6] He joined Birmingham City F.C.'s Academy as an under-seven, signed a pre-contract agreement in March 2016 to commit to a first professional contract which would run from his 17th birthday in December to the end of the 2018–19 season,[2][7] and took up a two-year scholarship in July.[8][9] Academy coach Steve Spooner described him as "a forward player that plays down the middle or off the side, a number 10 type player [with] good close control and a good variation of finishes."[2] He played for Birmingham's under-23 team in 2016–17, despite his youth, and was a regular for that team the following season.[10][11]

Bailey was included among the substitutes for the Championship fixture at home to Ipswich Town on 31 March 2018. He remained unused as his team won 1–0.[12] He helped Birmingham's youth team reach the semifinal of the 2017–18 FA Youth Cup, but was injured after four minutes of the first leg against Chelsea, depriving him not only of the chance to progress further – Chelsea outclassed Birmingham 7–0 on aggregate – but also of the possibility of making his senior debut in what remained of the season.[11][13]

He was a member of the first-team squad for their pre-season training camp in Austria,[14] and was given a squad number for the 2018–19 season.[15]

He joined Gloucester City of the National League South on a month's loan in November 2018, to give him experience of competitive first-team football.[16] The loan was extended to a second month, and by the time he returned to his parent club he had made 13 appearances in all competitions, 12 in the league, and scored twice. He felt he had matured during the spell, which had "definitely improved [his] game in many ways. That's physically, mentally and – more than anything – temperamentally", and added the "grit and determination" that comes from playing senior football in a context where "each game means everything" to a team fighting relegation.[17] He was offered a two-year deal in March 2019,[18] and signed it in June.[5]

Bailey made his competitive debut for Birmingham on 6 August 2019 in the EFL Cup first round. Manager Pep Clotet fielded an inexperienced team for the visit to Portsmouth, and Bailey came into the 3–0 defeat as a second-half substitute.[19] His first appearance in the Football League came on 20 August as a very late substitute in a 2–0 win at home to Barnsley in the Championship.[20] He scored his first senior goal for the club with a 89th-minute header from Dan Crowley's cross to clinch a 2–1 Championship win against Middlesbrough, six minutes after coming on as a substitute and two minutes after Middlesbrough had equalised.[21]

After three more substitute appearances over the next couple of months,[20] Bailey joined League Two club Forest Green Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[22] He went straight into the starting eleven for the visit to Macclesfield Town and was involved in his side's goal in a 2–1 defeat.[23] On his third appearance, in a 2–2 draw away to Grimsby Town, Bailey scored a 30-yard (27 m) "wonder goal"[24] that manager Mark Cooper rated "the best goal [he's] seen at Forest Green."[25] Against Port Vale on 11 February, a poor tackle left Bailey with ankle ligament damage; he was expected to return to Birmingham for treatment and to be out for six weeks.[26][27] He had made five appearances when the League Two season was first suspended and then ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[28][20]

Bailey began his 2020–21 season as a late substitute in Birmingham's opening fixture of the season, a 1–0 defeat at home to fourth-tier Cambridge United in the EFL Cup.[29] Having had no further involvement in the matchday squad under new head coach Aitor Karanka, Bailey returned to Forest Green Rovers on 16 October on loan until 3 January 2021.[30] He made his second debut in the starting eleven away to Colchester United four days later, and twice came close to scoring as his team lost 1–0.[31] He scored three goals from 14 matches during the period of the loan,[32] and although Forest Green were keen to extend it, the clubs were initially unable to agree terms. However, after Bailey signed an 18-month contract with Birmingham, with the option of a further year, his loan was extended to 31 May.[33][34]

International career

Bailey was called into the England under-16 squad as a replacement for West Ham United's Anthony Scully for a friendly fixture against their Belgian counterparts on 20 August 2014. He made his debut in the match which England lost 4–3.[35]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 February 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Birmingham City 2017–18[36] Championship000000—00
2018–19[37] Championship000000—00
2019–20[20] Championship610010—71
2020–21[32] Championship000010—10
Total 610020—81
Gloucester City (loan) 2018–19[36][38] National League South122——1[lower-alpha 1]0132
Forest Green Rovers (loan) 2019–20[20] League Two51———51
2020–21[32] League Two18310—1[lower-alpha 2]1204
Total 23410—11255
Career total 417102021468
  1. Appearance in FA Trophy
  2. Appearance in EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Club list of registered players as at 20th May 2017" (PDF). English Football League. 20 May 2017. p. 5. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  2. "Odin Bailey pens first professional contract". Birmingham City F.C. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  3. "Odin Bailey". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  4. Dicken, Alex (2 April 2018). "Who is Odin Bailey? Profiling the Birmingham City teen ready to light up St Andrew's". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  5. "Odin Bailey staying at Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  6. "Priory School footballers are national champions in ESFA cup!". Priory School Edgbaston. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  7. "Odin Bailey – A pro contract is just the first step". Birmingham City F.C. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  8. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2016 and 31/07/2016". The Football Association. p. 40. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  9. "An introduction to the Academy new boys". Birmingham City F.C. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  10. "Odin Bailey". Birmingham City F.C. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  11. Wollaston, Steve (1 March 2018). "Birmingham City news and transfers: Steve Cotterill's future; Fears over finances; Fans want answers". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  12. Dicken, Alex (31 March 2018). "Garry Monk names this Birmingham City XI to face Ipswich Town as Bailey makes the bench". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  13. Dick, Brian (31 March 2018). "Imperious Chelsea, luckless Bailey, Stirk promise – what we learned from Birmingham City's FA Youth Cup defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
    "Report: Chelsea Under-18s 4 Blues Under-18s 0". Birmingham City F.C. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  14. Kendrick, Mat (7 July 2018). "Birmingham City jet off on tour to Austria – leaving these players behind". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  15. "Blues squad numbers 2018/19". Birmingham City F.C. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. Iles, Robert (9 November 2018). "Gloucester City sign highly-rated Birmingham City midfielder on loan". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  17. "Odin Bailey returns a better player". Birmingham City F.C. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  18. Dick, Brian (21 March 2019). "The Under 23s Birmingham City have decided to release and retain". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  19. Chapman, Joseph (6 August 2019). "Birmingham City player ratings: Jude Bellingham shines bright despite defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  20. "Games played by Odin Bailey in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  21. Smee, Gary (4 October 2019). "Birmingham City 2–1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  22. Edwards, Matt (24 January 2020). "Signing: Future prospect Odin Bailey has eye on success after joining from Birmingham City". Forest Green Rovers F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  23. "Forest Green player ratings from Macclesfield defeat". Stroud News & Journal. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  24. "Grimsby 2-2 Forest Green: Mariners maintain solid start under Ian Holloway by holding promotion hopefuls". Sky Sports. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  25. Loveridge, Ashley (1 February 2020). "'He's an outstanding young talent and we are so fortunate that Birmingham have let us have him' – Mark Cooper on the prodigious talent of Odin Bailey". Stroud News & Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  26. Iles, Robert (13 February 2020). "Birmingham City loan midfielder facing battle to play for Forest Green Rovers again this season after 'horrendous tackle'". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  27. "Boss issues latest injury update". Birmingham City F.C. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  28. Roan, Dan; Stone, Simon (15 May 2020). "League Two clubs vote to end season, but League One teams fail to decide". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  29. "Birmingham City 0–1 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  30. "Bailey rejoins Forest Green Rovers". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  31. "Colchester United 1–0 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  32. "Games played by Odin Bailey in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  33. Dick, Brian (5 January 2021). "Birmingham City hand new contract to prospect as they extend loan deal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  34. "Odin Bailey signs contract extension". Birmingham City F.C. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  35. Stonehouse, Gary (12 August 2014). "22-man England squad announced for Belgium clash". The Football Association. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
    Stonehouse, Gary (20 August 2014). "England U16s slip to narrow defeat by Belgium at SGP". The Football Association. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  36. "Odin Bailey". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  37. "Games played by Odin Bailey in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  38. "Gloucester City Results & Statistics 2018/19 season". Tiger Roar. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
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