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2025/25 runner up Man City open at home, Sunday August 23 8am cst against Bournemouth. Both teams debut new managers.
Although Pep hands the reigns to Enzo Maresca they are still expected to challenge for the title and projected to finish 2nd. Defending champs are favorites to repeat.
2025/26 Finish - 2nd Place
Qualified for Champions League
75 - Projected 26/27 Points
Pep Guardiola’s incredible decade came to an end after last season. It will be a HUGE task for Enzo Maresca to follow up one of the greats and there will be some significant turnover to the club as well.
The term Dynasty does not get thrown around lightly but winning 6 PL titles in 9 years, including 4 of the last 6, mean’s you’ve earned it. So, when you then look at back-to-back seasons without winning the EPL (a 3rd and a 2nd) it’s considered a slump.
Expectations remain sky-high for this “Big 6” superpower who are sure to contend for title again this season. There is talent all over the pitch, and while Erling Haaland was a superstar already his World Cup fandom will only bring more expectations - and probably another several millions new City fans.
One thing to keep an eye on is how City start the season and how they handle the mid-season doldrums as they had 19 players on a World Cup squad, 8 of them made the quarterfinals. That is a lot of soccer for their top players in a summer, after a season, that saw them contend for titles.
Talent all over the pitch, a manager hungry to live up to Pep’s success, depth and the ability to spend - and a large stadium that will get only larger as the North End expansion to Etihad should be completed later this year adding more seats, a hotel and fan zone.
Elephant in the Room Remains. 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.
The Club
Located in Manchester
Etihad Stadium, 62,000 capacity
Rough estimates
$1B Annual Revenue
$550M Player Payroll
History on the Pitch
10 Titles, 6 of last 8 seasons
8 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 Kit
“Away Kit TBD”
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 198 matches, City has 62W 81L 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.
Word Association
Citizens, Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola Era, Sky Blue, Haaland, Sheikh Mansour, Innovation, Treble winners, Dominance in last 10 years, Abu Dhabi project, Kind of Little Brother (to Man United).
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.
Noel Gallagher - Oasis
Liuam Gallagher - Oasis
Ricky Hatton
Jackie Chan
Johnny Marr - The Smiths
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
Enzo Maresca, Italy, 46yo
Part of the Pep Guardiola tree.
Success at Leicester City, kinda success at Chelsea prior to coming back to City where he was an assistant under Pep.
ODDS
To Win League +275
Top 4 -360
To Be Relegated +1,200 (this low as they await point deduction ruling)
Roster Notes
Full Roster click link
No Americans on the team.
Erling Haaland
Rayan Cherki
Antoine Semenyo
Jeremy Doku
Marc Guehi
Phil Foden
Elliot Anderson
Josko Gvardiol
Rodri (WC Golden Ball Winner)
Nico O’Reilly
Ruben Dias
Tijjani Reijnders
Omar Marmoush
Matheus Nunes
Abdukodir Khusanov
Nico Gonzalez
Clean Sheet Seeker (Goalkeeper PL Rank)
Gianluigi Donnarumma
City of Manchester Stadium - Etihad Stadium
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