Max Bird had little hesitation in giving his answer when he was asked to be Derby County’s vice-captain by Interim Manager Liam Rosenior.


The midfielder, still only 21-years-of-age, said yes straight away as Rosenior continues to shape the Rams’ squad ahead of the new Sky Bet League One campaign which starts in just eight days’ time as they take on Oxford United in their season-opener at Pride Park Stadium (3pm kick-off).

Bird, who won the club’s Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Season for his performances during the 2021/22 campaign, has worn the armband on several occasions already for Derby in his young career.

Rosenior has given the central midfielder an added responsibility this season as he will assist Club Captain Curtis Davies in leading the squad and it’s an experience which Bird wants to learn from as he spoke to RamsTV after the news was revealed yesterday.

On Being Named Vice-Captain…

It was a bit of a surprise. I had a phone call with Liam on Wednesday and it was a short one. He asked if I wanted to be vice-captain and I said ‘yes, of course’ straight away. It is a big honour. I’ve been in the changing room for the last two years with a lot of leaders and learned a lot from them and we’ve brought a lot of new players in this season too. I’m still learning and learning how to lead, not just with the young lads but with the senior lads too, but it’s a huge honour.


What Liam Rosenior Said To Him…

He wants me to be a leader, on and off the pitch. That’s not just by speaking, it’s by your actions and how you play as well. If I can put on performances which catch the eye and be a role model in that way as well as with the way I talk to the lads and the people around the place, it will be a big benefit.


On Being A Natural Leader…

I’ve been a captain growing up and because I was in the first team at quiet a young age, I had people coming up to me and putting their arms around me telling me if I needed to be told - and I think I’m the same. If the standards aren’t high enough or the quality isn’t there, and there is a bad attitude, then it’s going to be said. If something goes well and the lads are doing well then the lads need to be told that as well. I will pass on my knowledge and experience that I’ve learned from the players from the past four years being in the first team environment.

What A 10-Year Max Bird Would Think Of Max Now…

When I was 10, I wouldn’t have imagined anything like this. Moreso when I was 14, 15, it would have been an ambition of mine but I’ve been brought up to be a leader. My dad taught me a lot about that when we went to watch Manchester United. We watched Rio Ferdinand a lot, Paul Scholes and others like that, and Wayne Rooney, but it’s another challenge for me. It’s the next part of my development and I want to kick on again this season. I want to have another good season where I can develop and that’s not just on the pitch, but off the pitch too.


On Pre-Season So Far…

I had a good off-season and I came back feeling good. We’ve brought in a lot of new faces and we’re still trying to gel together, but there has been some really good stuff. Training has been good, especially in the last few weeks. The games against Bradford City and Hertha Berlin were a good start for us but we know we still have a lot to work on. The way we play is very different and so for the new players coming in it might be hard for them to understand at the minute, but now it’s my job, Curtis’ job and the players that were here last season to help Liam and Justin to coach that. Hopefully we get to a similar place to where we were last season in terms of structure and how we play. If we do that, I think we will have a positive season.