Christian Mark Short (born 9 May 1970) is a former footballer who played as a defender for Scarborough, Notts County, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United and Stoke City. He also played non-league football for Pickering Town and Hinckley United.
Playing career Born in Münster, West Germany, Short grew up in Yorkshire and followed his older brother Craig from non-league Pickering Town on to Scarborough. He was loaned to Manchester United before joining his brother again at Notts County for £240,000, Scarborough's record sale. He helped Neil Warnock's side reach the top flight in his first season and he stayed there until 1995, when he joined Sheffield United. Brian Little took him to Stoke City on a free transfer in 1998 and impressed as an attacking right back.
However, just a month into his Stoke career he collapsed on the edge of the pitch at Fulham on 8 September 1998 and had to be revived with oxygen. Short went on a number of checks at the hospital but they found no problems with him. He was put on a sodium diet and says that he always felt "tired and out of breath". Eventually he was diagnosed with a circulation disorder and retired from playing after ending his career with Scarborough and Hinckley United.
Coaching career Short later worked as a strength and conditioning coach and sports massage therapist and has also worked as a fitness coach with Blackburn Rovers, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Leicester City and Sheffield United. Short joined Neil Warnock's coaching set-up at Leeds United as the first team fitness conditioner on 13 July 2012. Short left the club shortly after the sacking of Neil Warnock, with manager Brian McDermott bringing in his own fitness coach Jon Goodman.
In November 2016 he became the fitness coach at Bradford City. He left his role with Bradford in June 2018.
A month after leaving Bradford he moved to Blackpool as the new First Team Coach.
He joined Oxford United in 2018, as the club's new Head of Sports Science. Short left this role at the end of the 2020/21 season to join Middlesbrough, but departed following Neil Warnock's sacking the following November.
He returned to Oxford United for a second spell in the club's sports science department in September 2022 on a short-term basis, initially until Christmas, helping out with the first team and women's side.
Personal life His brother Craig was also a professional footballer. He and his brother now regularly row across the English channel for charity. Both have played for Pickering Town, Scarborough, Notts County and Sheffield United. The two have also worked together at Oxford United.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsScarborough1988–89Fourth Division20000020401989–90Fourth Division411105020491Total431105040531Notts County1990–91Second Division1512000201911991–92First Division2702010213211992–93First Division3111020103511993–94First Division60002010901994–95First Division1300000101401995–96Second Division2000202060Total9425070911153Huddersfield Town (loan)1994–95Second Division6000001070Sheffield United1995–96First Division1503000001801996–97First Division2400030202901997–98First Division50401000100Total440704020570Stoke City1998–99Second Division2100020002301999–2000Second Division140103000180Total350105000410Scarborough2001–02Football Conference5000000050Career total22731402101612784
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