Manchester City FC, a club with a long history, has gone through many vicissitudes to become one of the greats of British football. He has had moments of splendor at the beginning that his archival Manchester United would have loved to have, but also very painful crises. Let's see its evolution.

The Club was founded in 1880 by the rector and members of the Church of San Mark's who wanted to offer entertainment to the neighbourghood for the long winter months. It was called first Saint Mark 's FC, then Gorton FC and Ardwick AFC, to finally access the name by which we know it today, a club with a vocation to have fans throughout the city of Manchester.

Manchester City 1904 team

The track record of the victories will give us an idea of ​​the competitive capacity of The Sky Blues.

Manchester City won the Second Division in the 1899, 1903, 1910, 1928, 1947, 1966 and 2002 seasons.

The Citizens claimed the First Division title for the first time in 1937 and almost thirty years later in 1968 and then already in the 21st century won the Premier League title in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019.

The FA Cup was won in 1904 and then in 1934, 1956 and 1969, 2011 and 2019.

As for the League Cup, the victories took place in 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Regarding international competitions, he won the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup in 1970.

This record allows us to see that the team has had its bright periods, especially in its beginnings in 1904 when he won the FA Cup, an important title, the first won by a team from the city of Manchester.

It was a very popular Club in its best moments, as witnessed in 1934, when 84,569 fans flocked to the stadium to watch a game. This figure if we think of the 1930s is really impressive. For this reason, the City holds the record for attendance at its Stadium in a match between English clubs. The championship that was being held was the FA Cup and it was won by the City. Also in the 1930s they took the First Division competition in 1937.

But these early successes also came along with great failures and long seasons in Second division.

To give an example of the ups and downs of the Club, let's follow a specific period; in 1934 they won the FA Cup, the club was in First Division from 1928 to 1938 but then was relegated and from 1938 to 1947 The Citizens remained in Second Division. They ascended to First between 1947 and 1950, when they were relegated again.

A period of great lights was the 60's with Joe Mercer as coach. They won the First Division for the second time and in 1969 they won the FA Cup for the fourth time. In 1970 they took the League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup in 1970, the first English club to make a double.

The club went through turbulent years again with hardly any titles, fell to nothing less than the Third Division in 1998 until it was rescued under the guidance of Kevin Keegan to later in 2008 be acquired by Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dabhi Group. From 2008, the most brilliant era of this centennial Club begins. The victories of the record ratify this new golden age in which it is currently settled.

The history of Manchester City FC allows us to appreciate a tension to endure, efforts to ascend to First Division, falls into the hells of the Third Division, rebirths, tragedy, lights, great victories and finally great period with titles today. What more can we ask of a Club than the perseverance to go on and on and become one of the greats ?

Legendary Manchester City FC Footballers

We are going to include the best City players from the old times.

Eric Brook, born in 1907 was the Manchester City star of the interwar period, he played between 1928 and 1940 scoring 177 goals in 494 games, thanks to his powerful strikes on goal, and a prodigious physical capacity at the service of the Mancunian team, led him to win a league title in 1937 and an FA Cup in 1934. Let us bear in mind that before the arrival of Agüero, Eric Brook was the top scorer for the Sky Blues.

Eric Brook Manchester City

Bert Trautmann, born in Germany in 1923, was a staunch Manchester City goalkeeper between 1949 and 1964. He was released from a British prison camp as he joined the German paratrooper forces and was taken prisoner. Trautmann did not want to return to Germany and after the Second World War he came to play for City. There were big reservations about accepting him at the beginning. However his good game was stronger and he was finally  accepted. He played 508 games for Manchester City in the 15 years he was active at the Club. The great goalkeeper in history of football, Lev Yashin said that the two of them were the only world-class goalkeepers. The story of the FA Cup final against Birmingham has remained in the memory of football fans when Trautmann was injured when making a very dangerous stop but wanted to continue defending the goal even with a dislocated neck. Later it was learned that he had had several vertebrae broken in his neck.

Mike Summerbee, born in 1942, was a legendary and much-loved forward for Manchester City, where he played nine seasons, specifically from 1965 to 1975, and 453 games. He had previously played for Swindon Town and after his time at Manchester City, he signed to three more teams from the British Isles; Burnley, Blackpool and Stockport Country. During his seasons with The Citizens we highlight the 1967-1968 season when the player scored 14 goals in the First Division championship that allowed the Sky Blues to win the championship title. The following year, in 1969, he contributed to the victory of the FA Cup, and in 1970 he would win the League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He was named Manchester City player of the year in 1972 and 1973. A no less important fact: he participated in the film Escape to Victory, the famous film by John Huston along with Pelé, Bobby Moore, Paul van Himst and actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine.

Mike Summerbee Manchester City

Colin Bell, born in 1946, is regarded as the greatest Manchester City player of all time. He started his career playing in Second Division Bury FC side until he was hired for the 1965 season by Manchester City, who also played that year in Second Division. He helped to promote the Club to First Division already in 1967. He played for Manchester City  until 1979 and contributed to the triumphs of the late 1960s and early 1970s together with Mike Summerbee. The West Stand area of ​​the Manchester City Stadium was named in his honor.

Other players that we must not forget; Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Agüero.

Manchester City FC shirts

In 1894-95 the Manchester City FC shirts were double-colored, half dark blue and half light blue  or half white and half pale blue in 1890-91. But already in 1894-95 the players wore the pale blue color that has been faithful to the team throughout its long history.

The shorts have changed over time. They have been mainly white but also in 1976 they were replaced by the characteristic pale blue so that the team was dressed in full pale blue, socks included. In 1985 the white pants were again back. As for the neck of the shirts we find at different times a blue polo neck of the same hue of the shirt,  a white polo neck, a white v neck, or a white round neck. From 1976 with Umbro as manufacturer, details will be included like lateral stripes on the shoulders, or darker blue vertical stripes. These designs were adapted to the taste of the each period of time.

As for the shield, we will also see it changing over the years from 1894. Mainly it will include the colors of the Grelley Family, feudal lords of Manchester, the rose of Lancaster as well as the ship that alludes to the famous Manchester Sea Canal.

Access our best official Manchester City FC vintage shirts where we bring all the history alive through the shirts of this exciting football club based in Greater Manchester that has managed to overcome all adversities and be one of the greats of European football.

Manchester City 1998-1999 team