Manchester City have been one of the most successful clubs in the world over the past decade but they also have a very rich history that goes all the way back to the 19th century.
Here, we will be looking at Man City’s past, how the club was founded, what grounds they have played at and the trophies that they have won.
In addition, we will explain the history of the club’s name. They didn’t actually start out as Manchester City, having had two previous iterations prior to what they are known by today.
Considering Man City’s success in recent years, we also delve into the Premier League era, looking at the titles won, as well as the managers and players who have played for the Cityzens.
When were Man City founded?
The club’s foundation goes back to 1880 when members of St Mark’s Church of England in West Gorton, Manchester opted to form a new sports team.
There was a lot of crime in East Manchester at the time, and two churchwardens William Beastow and Thomas Goodbehere decided that having a sport for the winter months (when cricket wasn’t an option) would offer young men a new pastime.
They played their first match against a church team from Macclesfield on 13th November 1880; a game they lost 2-1. During their first season, the club only won one match against Stalybridge Clarence.
What were Man City originally called?
The club started out life as St Mark’s (West Gorton) or, in some records West Gorton (St Mark’s), named after the church where the team was formed.
Within seven years, they had been renamed Ardwick Association Football Club before getting their current moniker, Manchester City Football Club, in 1894. That was the same year they began to wear their famous sky blue shirts.
A Brief History of Man City
After taking on their current name in 1894, City won their first title in 1899 when they finished top of the second division. 5 years later in 1904, they lifted their first FA Cup, beating Bolton Wanderers 1-0.
The club encountered a lot of problems over the next couple of decades before reaching back-to-back FA Cup finals in 1933 and 1934, losing to Everton in the first and beating Portsmouth in the second.
In 1937, the Sky Blues won their first top-division title but in a bizarre twist of fate, they were relegated the following year (despite having scored the most goals). There was a brief revival of fortunes in the 1950s as they again reached back-to-back FA Cup finals, losing the first to Newcastle and beating Birmingham City in the second. However, by the 60s, they were playing in front of crowds of less than 10,000. Their attendance record (which was broken in 1934) was 84,569.
Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison years
The appointment of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison as manager turned Man City‘s fortunes around. In their first season, they were promoted from the second division, before going on to win the first division title two years later.
After securing another FA Cup in 1969, City then won their first European trophy, beating Gornik Zabrze 2-1 in the 1970 Cup Winners Cup final. They also lifted the League Cup in the same campaign. The team would continue to challenge after Mercer left in 1971, with Allison then taking sole charge.
Sheikh Mansour and Pep Guardiola
City went through a long period of decline before they began to recapture their former glories following the arrival of owner Sheikh Mansour and Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. Under their guidance, the club have gone on to win seven more league titles; the first two of which came under the management of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini.
However, the arrival of Pep Guardiola in 2016 proved to be the defining moment in the club’s modern history. The Catalan has guided the Cityzens to unprecedented levels of success, including their first Champions League trophy in 2023.
Where have Man City played?
The club’s first home was at Hyde Road. However, a fire meant that City were forced to leave and move to the 85,000-capacity Maine Road in 1923.
Maine Road remained their home for the next 80 years before the Sky Blues took ownership of The City of Manchester Stadium, which was originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. It is now called the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship reasons.
How many trophies have Man City won?
The Cityzens have won 34 major trophies in total since the formation of the club 144 years ago.
They have lifted nine 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.
When did Man City last win the Premier League?
The Manchester club are the current holders of the Premier League title, having been crowned back in May 2023.
It is their seventh title since the beginning of the Premier League era, which means that only archrivals Manchester United have won more during that time.
Man City’s most famous players
Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee were the poster boys for the first golden era of the club back in the late 60s and early 70s. However, plenty of other players have gone on to become legends in recent years.
Sergio Aguero has become immortalised after scoring the winner against QPR back in 2012, which secured their first league title in 44 years. Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden are also held in high regard for helping to secure multiple trophies over the last decade.
Man City’s most famous managers
The Sky Blues’ two best coaches are undoubtedly Joe Mercer and Pep Guardiola. Mercer won a league title and the team’s first-ever European trophy so he will go down as one of the pivotal figures in the club’s history.
However, every other manager pales in comparison to what Guardiola has managed to achieve during his eight years at the Etihad. In addition to the Champions League title already mentioned, he has won five league titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, two Community Shields, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.
