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Christopher "Chris" Marsden (born 3 January 1969) is a retired Huddersfield Town and Southampton player who is famed for his bald head. He led Southampton to the 2003 FA Cup Final, which they lost 1–0 to Arsenal.

[edit] Playing career

Marsden was born in Sheffield and started his career with Sheffield United, going on to play for Huddersfield Town, Coventry City, Wolves, Notts County, Stockport County, Birmingham City, Southampton and Busan I'Park in South Korea.

Chris ended his career playing for Football League One club Sheffield Wednesday, of whom he is a lifelong fan.

He made 424 appearances in the Football League and scored 22 goals as a left footed midfield player and occasional defender. He first made an impression with Huddersfield Town in the early 1990s before successful spells at Stockport County and Birmingham City.

[edit] Southampton

Marsden did not reach the heights of the Premiership until he was 30 when he was brought to Southampton by then manager Dave Jones.

Marsden will always be remembered for his Maradona-esque goal at Portman Road, when he rounded four defenders and the goalkeeper to slot home in a 3-1 romp by the Saints. That goal, combined with a string of outstanding performances for his club, prompted a brief campaign for his inclusion in the England squad for the 2002 World Cup. Despite being widely viewed as a serious candidate for the troublesome left midfield position his prospects were dismissed by Alan Mullery on the You're on Sky Sports television show, who stated that he "didn't have a cat in hell's chance" of selection.^{[citation needed]}

The pinnacle of his career was when he captained Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final, which was lost 1-0 to Arsenal.

[edit] Sheffield Wednesday

After a short and unsuccessful spell at Busan I'Park, Marsden was snapped up on a free by Chris Turner for Sheffield Wednesday, the team he had supported since boyhood. Chris acted as an inspirational captain for the side through eighteen games. However, his dream of playing for Sheffield Wednesday was cut short by a hamstring injury that forced him to retire.

His nickname was "Chrissy Marsden Football Genius", often shortened to CMFG, which was given to him by Southampton fans. He was also known as the "the bald Beckenbauer" and "the Midfield General".

[edit] Honours

Southampton

• FA Cup finalist 2003

[edit] References

• Jeremy Wilson (2006). Southampton’s Cult Heroes. Know The Score Books. ISBN 1-905449-01-1. 

[edit] External links

• Chris Marsden career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile and statistics at Yahoo!UK
• (Dutch) Profile and statistics at Voetbal International
• Fansite
• K-League Player Record (Korean)