Manchester City: Titles| Records & Failures | Legendary Players and Managers| Controversy & Criticism

Manchester City have been one of the strongest sides in Europe for the past few years. Currently, City are the toughest team in the English footballing circuit to get past, with the quality of their players and the depth of their squad. The club was founded back in 1880 as St. Mark's (West Gorton), became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887, and then was renamed Manchester City seven years later.

After the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, the club saw good days coming in the near future. Something similar happened soon after their takeover when the Sky Blues fans witnessed numerous signings. The club broke the British transfer record after signing Brazilian international Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 million. However, the team's performance did not improve much.

Currently, the club is one of the toughest opponents to play against, boasting top-quality players in every position. The Sky Blues are competing for the double in the ongoing season as they will play in the FA Cup final against their noisy neighbors, Manchester United, and aim to win the English Premier League for the fourth consecutive time. Pep Guardiola's side was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League after losing in penalties to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the tournament. In this article, we will explore the club's glory, legendary players, managers, and other controversies associated with it.

Titles won by Manchester City

The club in their past 144 years history have won several trophies so far. The first major hounour that they won was back in 1904 after Man City defeated Bolton Wanderers 1–0 to win the FA Cup. Since then they have won 34 major trophies as they have 9 Premier Leagues (1936–37, 1967–68, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23), 7 FA Cups (1903–04, 1933–34, 1955–56, 1968–69, 2010–11, 2018–19, 2022–23), won the EFL or Carabao Cups 8 times ( 1969–70, 1975–76, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21).

Won the Community Shield 6 times (1937, 1968, 1972, 2012, 2018, 2019). One European Cup Winners' Cup. The one trophy that was missing from their cabinet was won by them in the previous season as they won the UCL for the first time. Then went on winning the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup as well. 

Records & Failures

• Record league victory: 11-3 vs Lincoln City (most goals scored), 10-0 vs Darwen (largest margin of victory)
• Record FA Cup victory: 12-0 over Liverpool Stanley
• Record European victory: 7-0 vs Schalke 04, UCL Round of 16 second leg; 7-0 vs RB Leipzig, UCL Round of 16 second leg. 
• Record league defeats: 0-8 vs Burton Wanderers; 0-8 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; 1-9 vs Everton; 2-10 vs Small Heath.
• Record FA Cup defeat: 0-6 vs Preston North End; 2-8 vs Bradford Park Avenue. 
• Record European defeat: 0-4 against FC Barcelona, UCL group stage. 
• Longest winning run in all competitions: 21, 19 December 2020 to 2 March 2021(all games won over 90 minutes)
• Longest unbeaten run in UEFA Competitions: 24, 6 September 2022 to 17 April 2024
• Longest winless run: 18, 26 December 1979 to 7 April 1980
• Most defeats in a row: 8, 23 August 1995 to 14 October 1995
• Most goals scored in a season (all competitions): 169 goals, 2018–19 
• Most league goals conceded in a season: 102, 1962–63

Legendary Players

The club have seen some of the greatest talents in football. However the Sky Blues have made some players big in the European circuit as they got their recognitions from this club and there were players who came with great intentions but could not fulfill their dreams and desire as per the expectations of the club. From around over 500 players to have played for the club we will be looking at the 7 legendary players who have appeared for Man City. 

7. Fernandinho 

The Brazilian has been one of the finest defensive midfielders of his generation. His versatility made him better than others in the league, as he could play in the center-back position and the right-back as well. For City, he has been a star footballer. He joined the club back in 2013 and played until 2022, making 264 appearances for the side and scoring 20 goals. However, he won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, six EFL Cups, and two FA Community Shields.

6. Francis Lee 

The Brazilian has been one of the finest defensive midfielders of his generation. His versatility made him better than others in the league, as he could play in the center-back position and the right-back as well. For City, he has been a star footballer. He joined the club back in 2013 and played until 2022, making 264 appearances for the side and scoring 20 goals. However, he won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, six EFL Cups, and two FA Community Shields.

5. Yaya Toure 

Yaya Toure was one of the most underrated footballers of all time. The Ivorian midfielder had a sense of goal-scoring ability while playing in the central midfield position. He joined City back in 2010 after leaving FC Barcelona. For the English side, he spent around eight seasons, playing 230 games for the club and scoring 59 goals. Toure was one of Guardiola's favorites and was coached by him for two clubs, Barca and in his last two seasons for City as well.

4. David Silva

David Silva was one who did not get the recognition commensurate with the quality he possessed. Being a part of Spain's star-studded midfield, he could have been better recognized if he had played for some other countries. Silva was a key part of City since he moved to England. He spent a decade at the club and made brilliant contributions, winning numerous trophies from 2010 to 2020. The 38-year-old creative midfielder appeared in 309 games and scored 60 goals for the club.

3. Sergio Aguero 

Sergio 'Kun' Aguero has been one of the deadliest strikers in England. The Argentine forward is the club's record goalscorer, having scored 184 times in 275 appearances for the club. Aguero was known for his prolific goalscoring ability, but in his 10 years with the club, he failed to win the UEFA Champions League. However, among his 184 goals, the most important and iconic one for him was against Queens Park Rangers in 2012, scored in the 93:20 minute of the game, leading to winning the league.

2. Vincent Kompany 

The Belgian center-back has been one of the greatest defenders to represent the club as well as in Premier League history. Kompany started his career as a defensive midfielder at City but was later shifted to the center-back position. He joined the club in 2008 from Hamburg and played for more than a decade, appearing in 265 games. He was the captain of the side from 2011 to 2019, and during his tenure, the club won several league titles.

1. Colin Bell 

Colin Bell is another legendary name associated with the club. The English striker made 501 appearances for the side and found the net 153 times in his 13-year career with the club. Bell is regarded as one of the club's greatest-ever players. The striker is the fourth-highest goal scorer in the club's rich history.

Managers

The club has had several managers in its over 100 years of history. However, there are some managers who announced themselves as the greatest for the club by winning trophies and implementing an attractive brand of football. Now, we will look at some of the greatest managers who have achieved success for the club.

4. Manuel Pellegrini 

The Chilean manager joined the club back in 2013 and served for three seasons. With English football, he won the Football League Cup and the Premier League in his first season as manager, becoming the first manager from outside Europe to lead a team to win the Premier League title for the first time. Pellegrini made the side qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-final for the first time in 2015–16, his last season with the club. He coached the side in 166 games and won 101 of them, achieving a record of almost 2 points per match (PPM).    

3. Roberto Mancini 

The Italian manager joined the club back in 2009. He helped the club win the FA Cup in the 2010–11 season, the club's first major trophy in 35 years. In the very next season, he won the Premier League for the club for the first time in 44 years, as they defeated QPR in the final match of the league, winning the league on goal difference. In his four years at the club, the 59-year-old coach was in charge of 191 games, winning 113 of them and achieving a 1.97 PPM.

2. Joe Mercer

Joe Mercer joined City in 1965 and enjoyed a long spell of six years until 1971. Under him, the club returned to the first division of the league in his first season in charge. Two seasons later, Mercer led Manchester City to the 1967-68 First Division title, followed by victories in the 1969 FA Cup, 1970 League Cup, and 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup. He was in charge of the club for 152 games and won 69 of them.

1. Pep Guardiola 

The Spanish manager has been one of the greatest football coaches of all time. Guardiola is the only coach to win the sextuple with FC Barcelona in the history of the game and has helped develop some young footballing talents into legends of the game. The 53-year-old manager joined City back in 2016, and in his second season, the club went on to win the Premier League with 100 points. He has been in charge of the club for 468 matches, winning 346 games, and under him, the club also won their first UEFA Champions League title in the 2022-23 season.

Controversy & Criticism

The club, after so many successes over the years, has faced severe criticisms and has been involved in controversies as well. The club has been charged with failing to comply with regulations over the years. They have acted improperly on multiple occasions by skirting regulations, with accusations of gaining an unfair advantage over other clubs under the ownership of City Football Group. There have been charges that the club ran afoul of Premier League rules on profitability and sustainability from 2015 to 2018.