How Christoph Klarer feels about Chris Davies amid Birmingham City contract extension – Blues fans will love it
Birmingham City captain Christoph Klarer has described Chris Davies as an “elite manager” whilst penning a long-term contract extension to stay in the West Midlands.
The Austrian has been a key influence in Blues’ resurgence after joining from SV Darmstadt last summer following an individual campaign of Bundesliga football with the Hesse-based outfit, and will remain a key figure at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park until at least the summer of 2029 if all goes according to script.
Birmingham’s season has caught the attention of many thus far, with a plethora of outsiders initially tipping last season’s League One champions and EFL points record holders to mount an immediate bid for promotion from the Championship and potentially end what would be a 14-year exile from the Premier League at the end of the current campaign.
Davies’ side haven’t been alone in enduring a mixed opening three months of the campaign, despite embarking on yet another high-profile and ruthless recruitment drive which saw the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Marvin Ducksch, Tommy Doyle, Patrick Roberts and Demarai Gray join the club amongst others, as well as Klarer’s current centre-back partner, Phil Neumann, who agreed to move from Hannover 96 through a pre-contract agreement which was finalised in January.
A run of just one win between August 30th and October 21st set alarm bells ringing regarding Davies’ long-term future in B9 despite continued reassurances from owner, Tom Wagner, with a subsequent run of three wins and two defeats in the past five outings lifting Blues to within just four points of the play-offs with 31 games remaining.
The resumption of Championship football also marks a monumental and historic week for Birmingham, who will unveil plans for the upcoming Sports Quarter on Thursday, as well as celebrating their official 150th anniversary match against Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.
And, after seeing goalkeeper, Ryan Allsop, agree fresh terms on Tuesday, Klarer committed himself to the project once more a day later.
Christoph Klarer issues glowing Chris Davies reference after fresh Birmingham City contract extension
As previously mentioned, the former Southampton defender was a standout figure in League One last term for Blues, as they conceded just 31 league goals in 46 games, before continuing his upward trajectory into the Championship.
His influence was laid bare in August. Following Krystian Bielik’s departure to local rivals, West Bromwich Albion, Klarer was appointed as permanent captain after being an in-game skipper on several occasions last term, with his former Polish teammate in and out of Davies’ side as the season drew on.
So far this season, Klarer has continued to be a domineering and composed figure for the 40-year-old, remaining a constant in the lineup alongside Alex Cochrane, whilst other positions at centre-back, right-back and between the sticks have been up for grabs until recently.
The 25-year-old also leads the individual stats when it comes to accurate passes per 90, emphasising why many call him a ‘rolls-royce’, as well as netting his first of the season in the recent 4-0 success over Portsmouth.
Unsurprisingly, the 6’3″ figure spoke with immense pride when reflecting on his new extension, as well as heaping major praise on the aforementioned Davies.
“It feels great. It was something that both sides wanted to get done,” he told the club website. “A long-term contract obviously motivates me to work even harder and to really make an impact at this club.
“It was very important for me to have owners that are really ambitious and want to try and go somewhere. Average is not accepted any more at this club and there’s an ambition behind it and that was really important for me.
“To get the chance to work under an elite manager is really important. Someone that pushes me every day and makes me better every day, and at 25 years of age I’ve still got a lot to learn and things to improve, so they are two of the main reasons I decided to stay here for longer,” Klarer explained.
Birmingham City fans are loving Christoph Klarer contract news ahead of Sports Quarter reveal
It is certainly an exciting time for Bluenoses at present, and it’s no surprise that the news of their skipper penning a new deal has gone down well with all supporters.
Another described such developments as “massive”.
Given Blues’ future plans under Knighthead, another supporter believes Klarer can follow in the footsteps of cult hero, Stephen Carr, who lifted the EFL Cup in 2011.
This showcases how popular the imposing centre-back has made himself in just over a year, with many predicting that his individual trajectory and that of Birmingham as a club can go hand-in-hand over time, as they look to become a real force to be reckoned with.
