Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club, based in Manchester, England, competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton), the club became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894. Their home ground is the City of Manchester Stadium, where they moved in 2003 after playing at Maine Road since 1923. The club adopted their sky blue home shirts in 1894. Manchester City has won 10 league titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, six FA Community Shields, one UEFA Champions League, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
The club joined the Football League in 1892 and won their first major honor, the FA Cup, in 1904. Their first major success period was in the late 1960s and early 1970s, winning the league title, FA Cup, League Cup, and European Cup Winners’ Cup under Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison. After losing the 1981 FA Cup final, the club declined, culminating in relegation to the third tier of English football in 1998. They regained promotion to the top tier in 2001–02 and have remained in the Premier League since 2002–03.
Significant financial investment in players and facilities followed the club’s takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan through the Abu Dhabi United Group in August 2008. This ushered in a new era of success, with the club winning the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League in 2012, their first since the 1960s, followed by another league title in 2014. Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City won the Premier League in 2018, becoming the only team in competition history to attain 100 points in a single season. In 2018–19, they won four trophies, completing an unprecedented sweep of all domestic titles in England and becoming the first English men’s team to win the domestic treble. They secured four consecutive Premier League titles from 2020–21 to 2023–24 and reached their first-ever Champions League final in 2021. The 2022–23 season saw them win their maiden European Cup and complete the continental treble, becoming the second English club to do so. The club is ranked first in the UEFA coefficient standings as of 2023.
Manchester City was listed in the Deloitte Football Money League at the end of the 2022–23 season, making it the football club with the second highest revenue in the world, approximated at €825 million. In 2022, Forbes estimated the club as the sixth-most valuable globally, worth $4.250 billion. Manchester City is owned by City Football Group Limited, a holding company valued at £3.73 ($4.8) billion in November 2019, with majority ownership by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Achievement
Domestic Competitions:
First Division / Premier League (Level 1):
- Winners (10): 1936–37, 1967–68, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Runners-up (6): 1903–04, 1920–21, 1976–77, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2019–20
Second Division / First Division / Championship (Level 2):
- Winners (7): 1898–99, 1902–03, 1909–10, 1927–28, 1946–47, 1965–66, 2001–02
- Runners-up (4): 1895–96, 1950–51, 1988–89, 1999–2000
- Promoted third place (1): 1984–85
Third Division / Second Division / League One (Level 3):
- Promoted third place (1): 1998–99
FA Cup:
- Winners (7): 1903–04, 1933–34, 1955–56, 1968–69, 2010–11, 2018–19, 2022–23
- Runners-up (6): 1925–26, 1932–33, 1954–55, 1980–81, 2012–13, 2023–24
Football League Cup / EFL Cup:
- Winners (8): 1969–70, 1975–76, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
- Runners-up (1): 1973–74
FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield:
- Winners (6): 1937, 1968, 1972, 2012, 2018, 2019
- Runners-up (9): 1934, 1956, 1969, 1973, 2011, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023
European Competitions:
UEFA Champions League:
- Winners (1): 2022–23
- Runners-up (1): 2020–21
European Cup Winners’ Cup:
- Winners (1): 1969–70
UEFA Super Cup:
- Winners (1): 2023
Worldwide Competitions:
- FIFA Club World Cup:
- Winners (1): 2023
- FIFA Club World Cup:
Doubles and Trebles:
Doubles:
- League and FA Cup (2): 2018–19, 2022–23
- League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup (1): 1969–70
Domestic Treble:
- League, FA Cup, and League Cup (1): 2018–19
Continental Treble:
- League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League (1): 2022–23
Three-peats:
- Premier League: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- EFL Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
Notable Player
Sergio Aguero
- Arrival: Signed by Manchester City in July 2011 from Atletico Madrid for a club-record fee.
- Impact: Became City’s all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing 260 goals in all competitions.
- Key Moments:
- Scored the iconic injury-time goal against QPR in 2012, securing City’s first Premier League title in 44 years.
- Known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability and crucial goals in big matches.
- Achievements:
- Won four Premier League titles with Manchester City.
- Earned numerous individual awards, including Premier League Player of the Month honors multiple times.
- Legacy:
- Regarded as one of City’s greatest players, synonymous with the club’s rise to dominance in English football under manager Pep Guardiola.
- Left Manchester City in 2021 as a legendary figure, joining Barcelona after a highly successful career at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne
- Arrival: Joined Manchester City in August 2015 from VfL Wolfsburg for a then-club record fee.
- Role: Primarily plays as a midfielder, known for his vision, passing, and playmaking abilities.
- Impact:
- Quickly became a key player for City, providing numerous assists and goals.
- Integral in Manchester City’s attacking play, often leading the team in assists each season.
- Key Achievements:
- Won multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and League Cups.
- Recognized individually with awards like PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.
- Notable Performances:
- Instrumental in crucial matches, including his standout performances in the Champions League and domestic competitions.
- Known for his exceptional long-range passing and ability to dictate the pace of the game.
- Legacy:
- Regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, pivotal to Manchester City’s success in recent years.
- Continues to be a vital leader and playmaker for the team.
Erling Haaland
- Arrival: Signed by Manchester City in June 2022 from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of around £51 million.
- Role: Plays as a striker, known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, physicality, and speed.
- Impact:
- Made an immediate impact by scoring numerous goals in his debut season.
- Quickly became one of the leading goal scorers in the Premier League.
- Key Achievements:
- Broke various records, including becoming the fastest player to score 20 Premier League goals.
- Helped City secure important victories in both domestic and European competitions.
- Notable Performances:
- Scored multiple hat-tricks and crucial goals in key matches.
- Known for his clinical finishing and ability to score from various positions on the field.
- Legacy:
- Considered one of the most promising young talents in world football.
- Continues to be a central figure in Manchester City’s attacking lineup, contributing significantly to the team’s success.