With seven matches left in Birmingham City’s Championship season, the title of Player of the Season is all but settled — and it belongs to Christoph Klarer.
The Austrian centre-back, who won both the Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Player of the Season awards last year following an outstanding League One campaign, has continued to excel after stepping up to the Championship level. Now officially the Blues’ captain, Klarer has been a rock of consistency in a season marked by change and instability within the squad.
Klarer has started in all but the three games he missed due to suspension, proving to be the standout performer amid a team gearing towards a mid-table finish. Blues reporter Alex Dicken recently gave Klarer a season-high rating of 7.5, with commentators Brian Dick and BBC Radio WM’s Richard Wilford concurring on the Keep Right On Podcast.
READ MORE: New Parking Law to Encourage All English Councils to Adopt National Parking Platform
READ MORE: State Pensioners Set to Receive Unexpected £921 Payment This Thursday
While some social media voices have pointed out moments where Klarer struggled, these criticisms overlook the broader picture. Amid evolving defensive setups and rotations in central midfield, Klarer has been the constant presence, leading by example both on and off the pitch.
In matchups such as those against Derby’s Patrick Agyemang, Klarer has shown clear improvement, adapting lessons from earlier games to refine his defensive approach. Although no player quite reaches an eight out of ten rating this season, Klarer’s level of performance and leadership firmly places him ahead of his teammates.
He has even played out of his preferred position multiple times, making sacrifices to accommodate teammates like Phil Neumann, while maintaining composure and effectiveness. His ability to perform consistently in a league new to him is a testament to his quality and character.
In a team still finding its footing, Christoph Klarer remains the bedrock — the obvious choice for Birmingham City’s Player of the Season as the campaign draws to a close.