Born in Manchester in 1973, as a youth player Makin played for the same boys team as Manchester United's Paul Scholes, but whilst the England man found fame at Old Trafford, Makin headed in a different direction altogether, signing as a trainee for Oldham Athletic.

Makin got his break at Boundary Park under the management of Joe Royle, who handed him his debut for the Latics in the 1993/94 season after the defender had spent a year on loan at Bryan Hamilton's Wigan Athletic.

After breaking into the first team, the full back made just short of 100 League appearances for Oldham Athletic and was part of the side that lost to Manchester United in The FA Cup semi-final in 1994.

The opportunity to move abroad came along when Makin's contract with Oldham run out, thereby handing the 23-year-old a Bosman free transfer. When French giants Olympique Marseille came in for Makin, he could hardly refuse and so in August 1996, Makin moved to the French Riviera to team up with the likes of Yordan Letchkov and Andreas Kopke.

The 1993 European champions did not have the best of things during the 1996/97 season. Having missed out on Europe the previous year, a big improvement was needed from Gerard Gili's side if they were to challenge for honours.

Though Xavier Gravelaine played well upfront, scoring 15 goals in 33 League matches, the season was generally one of more disappointment for the Velodrome club. Makin played in 29 of Marseille's 38 games as they finished in 11th place and were knocked out of the First Round of the French Cup.

Midway through the season, Gili made way for new coach Rolland Courbis and Makin decided that he should return to England. Sunderland's manager Peter Reid lured him to Wearside and Makin signed in August 1997 for £500,000.

Makin spent four full season's at the Stadium of Light and was part of the side that won promotion back into the Premiership in 1998/99.

In the March 2001, George Burley tempted Makin down to Portman Road and he signed for Ipswich Town for £1.25 million.

Chris Makin 

Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 8 May 1973 
Place of Birth: Manchester
Height: 5' 10''
Weight: 11 02 
Clubs: Ipswich Town

 

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1991/92

Olham Athletic

0

0

1992/93

Oldham Athletic

0

0

1992/93

Wigan Athletic

15

2

1993/94

Oldham Athletic

27

1

1994/95

Oldham Athletic

28

1

1995/96

Oldham Athletic

39

2

1996/97

Marseille

29

0

1997/98

Sunderland

25

0

1998/99

Sunderland

38

0

1999/00

Sunderland

34

1

2000/01

Sunderland

23

0

2000/01

Ipswich Town

10

0

2001/02

Ipswich Town

30

0

2002/03

Ipswich Town

33

0

2003/04

Ipswich Town

1

0


Related Items