2024/25 Finish - 3rd Place
Qualified for Champions League
Dynasty. That term does not get thrown around lightly but winning 6 PL titles in 8 years, including the last 4 of the last 5, mean’s you’ve earned it. So when you then look at a 3rd place finish in the PL and no cups it is considered a down year.
Starting Over. This may be Pep’s biggest challenge at City. While there is talent all over the pitch, key players who took them to their titles are gone. Kevin De Bruyne comes immediately to mind. Rodri was really missed last season with a bad leg injury and the question is at what level will he return.
Elephant in the Room. Financial Fair Play decisions continue to linger. While all the charges have been reviewed no final decision has been made regarding penalties. There could be point deductions, or more. City need to just focus on the field and react as decisions are made. I’m sure Pep will use it as motivation.
City is a top five payroll club in the world and will contend for a title, however a seventh title may come down to how well City integrates young with old, and old with new. With a roster that really has not had an off-season and will have new payers at key positions, this season feels like it will be Pep’s biggest challenge in his tenure at City.
The Club
Located in Manchester
Etihad Stadium, 55,000 capacity
Rough estimates
$1B Annual Revenue
$250M Player Payroll
History on the Pitch
10 Titles, 6 of last 8 seasons
7 FA Cups
2 Europe Cups
Ownership
Prior to 2008, City was a public club struggling financially and as a result had the lowest player payroll spending in the PL. In 2008 Abu Dhabi-based Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited purchased City for $250M. That’s when the player spending started and in 2009 they were the highest spending team in the PL. In 2014 City Football Group (CFG) was created as an umbrella corporation that now owns more than 10 clubs around the world, including NYC FC in MLS. Khaldoon Al Mubarak serves as Chairman - an Emirates Government official and business leader.
Sponsorship
Home
Away
Biggest Rival - Man United - Manchester Derby
Separated by 4 miles, the size and success of both clubs brings on this heated rivalry each year.
Maybe you remember this Commercial - “Born Into It”
With all the success lately for City, they still are behind United in the win column. In 196 matches, City has 61W 80L 55 D.
The Culture
Things really changed with the 2008 acquisition.
City has been branded as “everyone’s second favorite club” due to their reputation as being one of the most unpredictable teams (until recently) which is described as wanting to do things the hard way. You may hear them described as “typical city” or “soap opera”. For example, in 1958 City became the only team to ever score and concede 100 league goals in a season, “typical city”. They are known for their gallows (dark) humor and wear it as a badge of honor. City fans are famous for their “inflatables”, which started as a joke when player Imre Varadi was nicknamed “banana”. City holds the record for match attendance in a home match - 84,569.
Shipping Lanes
Originally started as St Mark’s, the club became Manchester City in 1894. Also in 1894, the Manchester Shipping Canal was constructed by Manchester merchants who were against paying dues to import/export goods to and from Manchester through Liverpool which sits 20 miles between Manchester and the Sea. Off the pitch rivalries continue today between the two cities. As a result, to this day Man City has a ship in their crest.
Supporters You May Recognize
Timothy Dalton. Bond. James Bond.
Jackie Chan
Johnny Marr - The Smiths
Oasis
Ice Cube
Song
While a slow song, the supporters speed it up and add some spice.
Game Day Pub Guide
Fan Sites
Cityzens - Official club fans with access and discounts
Official Twitter
@ManCity
High Follows on Twitter
@ManCityUS (200k)
@mcfc_lads (206k)
@themcfcview__ (8k)
The Team
The Gaffer
Pep Guardiola, Spain, 54yo
Top 5 manager in the world.
Won cups at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City.
ODDS
To Win League +320
To Be Relegated +1,475
Roster Notes
CS Projected Finish 6th
Full Roster click link
Erling Haaland
Phil Foden
Rodri
Bernado Silva
Ruben Dias
Tijjani Reijnders
Rayan Cherki
Clean Sheet Seeker (Goalkeeper PL Rank)
Ederson - Top 10 keeper in the league
James Trafford in the wings
City of Manchester Stadium - Etihad Stadium
