Season Preview 20in20 - Man City

1 of 20 - City

Author

nick lochner
July 25, 2023

The CleanSheet is previewing all 20 Premier League clubs in 20 days.

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2022/23 Finish - 1st Place, Won Champions League, Won FA Cup, Will Play in Champions League

Premier League Champions 5 of last 6 years. Won the “treble” in 2023, winning the three major cups (PL, CL and FA in the same season). Arguably the best manager in the game in Pep Guardiola, and a top 5 payroll budget in the world. Favored for a repeat.

The Club

Located in Manchester

Etihad Stadium, 55,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$800M Annual Revenue

$225M Player Payroll

History on the Pitch

  • 9 Titles, 5 of last 6 seasons, going for 4 in a row in 2024

  • 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, and 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 own more than 10 clubs around the world, including NYC FC of MLS. Khaldoon Al Mubarak serves as Chairman - an Emirates Government official and business leader.

Sponsorship

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 190 matches, City has 59W 78L 53 D.

  • Most recently, City beat Man United 2-1 to win the FA Cup Final in 2023

  • City also has significant rivalries with both Liverpool clubs…..see below for a history.

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) with 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 both 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

Official Twitter

@ManCity

High Follows on Twitter

@ManCityUS (200k)

@mcfc_lads (206k)

@themcfcview__ (8k)

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Pep Guardiola, Spain, 52yo

  • Best manager in the world?

  • Won cups at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City

ODDS

  • To Win League -150

  • To Be Relegated +50,000

  • To Finish Top 4 -1,200

  • To Finish Top 10 -50,000

Roster Notes

Full Roster click link

Projected to finish 1st

Americans on team

  • Zack Steffen, GK, out w/ Knee Injury

Top Players

  • Erling Haaland, Center Forward (Norway) is a top 3 scorer in the world.

  • Kevin De Bruyne, Midfield (Belgium) may be the best player in the world.

  • The list is too big to put here - pretty much world class at all positions.

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