2001–02 Birmingham City F.C. season

Trevor Francis was dismissed as manager in October with Birmingham mid-table in the First Division. Mick Mills and Jim Barron acted as caretakers until December, when former Crystal Palace manager Steve Bruce was appointed. Under his management Birmingham improved to finish fifth in the First Division for the third season running, qualifying for the play-offs yet again. This season, however, Birmingham finally tasted success: after beating Millwall 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-final, they faced Norwich City in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. After normal time ended goalless, the match went to extra time, only for Norwich's Iwan Roberts to score in the first minute of extra time. However, Geoff Horsfield equalised 11 minutes later and, with no further goals, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Birmingham won 4–2 to finally gain promotion to the Premier League, 16 seasons after their previous top-flight campaign. Match details League table Results summary Play-offs Final ==FA Cup==

In : Brackets round club names indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham. Out : Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired. Loan in Loan out ==Appearances and goals==

:Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute. :Players marked left the club during the playing season. :Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham. :Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes. :Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward ==See also==