2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: MANCHESTER CITY

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As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-07-07T10:00:00.000Z

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: MANCHESTER CITY

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-07-07T10:00:00.000Z

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

Today we take a look at Manchester City...

What's their history?

Current holders of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, City were founded in 1880 as ‘St Mark’s (West Gorton)’, becoming ‘Ardwick Association Football Club’ seven years later before eventually falling under the guise of ‘Manchester City’ come 1894.

The Sky Blues’ first honours came with a Second Division title in 1899 and a promotion to the top flight of English football. A first major honour came in the form of the FA Cup in 1904 as they beat Bolton Wanderers in the final of the domestic competition.

A fire at Hyde Road where City had been playing their home games brought a move to Maine Road in 1923 and it was there where over 84,569 fans flocked to watch a sixth-round FA Cup tie against Stoke City in 1934, a record which stood until 2016.

City won the First Division title for the first time in 1937 but were relegated the following season and after another spell outside the top flight in 1965, Joe Mercer was brought into the club, winning the Second Division title in his first full season in charge and signed Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell in the process.

1967/68 then saw the Citizens pip neighbours Manchester United to the top flight title on the final day of the season. City then lifted the League Cup and European Winners' Cup in 1970 becoming the second English club to win a domestic and European trophy in the same season.

The last trophy of the club’s most successful period in the 20th century saw Newcastle United beaten in the 1976 League Cup final at Wembley, before City’s fortunes then changed.

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Culminating in a relegation from the Premier League in 1996, the Sky Blues would go on to fall into the third tier and were promoted from that in the most dramatic of play-off finals against Gillingham at Wembley in 1999.

Making it back-to-back promotions and reaching the top flight, they were relegated once more in 2001, but responded with another Division One title in 2002 and have remained a Premier League team since with huge success.

Having moved to the Etihad Stadium ahead of the 2003/04 campaign, City were taken over in 2008 and three years later brought an end to their major honours drought with the FA Cup beating Stoke City at Wembley.

The takeover was in full swing and the 2011 summer transfer window saw the likes of Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri arrive in Manchester and join up with teammates such as Carlos Tevez, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure.

The famous ‘Aguero’ goal 12 months later then meant that they won the Premier League with victory against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2011/12 season in dramatic fashion.

Including those two honours above, in the last 14 years City have now won 22 pieces of silverware, breaking countless records and most recently the famous 'Treble' in the 2022/23 campaign, followed by the league title the following season.

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Stadium

The Etihad Stadium, located in Manchester, has been the home of Manchester City since opening in August 2003.

It has a seating capacity of over 53,000 and has seen plenty of memorable moments over the years, most notably the famous 'Aguero' goal in 2012.

As well as hosting many Premier League seasons, UEFA Champions League clashes, the likes of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Take That and Beyonce have all hosted concerts at the Manchester based venue.

The Clarets have played at the Etihad 12 times over the last few years, with the hosts coming out on top in all of them except the 2-2 draw in 2014.

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Last season

Manchester City experienced a challenging campaign despite still going on to finish third, after star-man Rodri suffered a long-term injury, a dip in form at the start of November saw a period of just one win in 13 matches in all competitions.

Their UEFA Champions League campaign came to an end in the Round of 16 against Real Madrid and Pep's men fell at the fourth-round of the Carabao Cup.

City did however reach the Emirates FA Cup final, but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley, ensuring a first trophyless season since 2016/17.

Club legend Kevin De Bruyne announced he would be departing at the end of the season and the Citizens said their goodbyes to the talented midfielder after their final home game.

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Who's the boss?

Pep Guardiola's time at Manchester City began in 2016, when the Spaniard was appointed as boss of City and his reign has been one of the most successful in English football.

Under his leadership, City have been one of the most dominant sides over the years in England and in Europe.

Guardiola has led the club to multiple Premier League titles, including four consecutive between 2021-2024, a historic domestic treble in 2018/19 and a first ever UEFA Champions League in 2023.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has implemented his style-of-play throughout the years and will be heading into his 10th season at the club this year.