Manchester City Football Club, commonly referred to as Manchester City or simply City, is one of the most well-known and successful football clubs globally. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's (West Gorton), it became Manchester City in 1894. The club is based in Eastlands, Manchester, England, and plays its home matches at the famous Etihad Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 55,000.
Manchester City has a rich history, boasting 7 English league titles, 6 FA Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League title, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era under manager Pep Guardiola, who led City to multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.
Known for its attacking style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Colin Bell, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, and Sergio Agüero. Despite facing stiff competition and challenges, Manchester City remains one of the world’s most valuable football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence English and world football.
Manchester City is one of the most successful football clubs in the world, consistently enjoying high average home attendances in Europe. The club reports that its worldwide fan base includes more than 160 officially recognised branches of the Manchester City Supporters Club (MCSC), in at least 22 countries. The club leverages this support through its global summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Manchester City has 70 million fans worldwide. The club has one of the highest social media followings worldwide among sports teams, with over 76 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Manchester City had some of the most passionate fans in the Premier League.
Manchester City was formed in 1880 as St. Mark's (West Gorton) by Anna Connell and two churchwardens of St. Mark's Church, in Gorton, a district in east Manchester. The team initially played games against other local clubs, but on 13 November 1880, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the church—black and white—they defeated Macclesfield 2–0.
In 1965, the club saw significant changes with the appointment of Joe Mercer as manager. He along with his assistant Malcolm Allison, transformed the team into a formidable force in English football. Under their leadership, Manchester City won the League Championship, FA Cup, League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. During this period, the club also moved to its current home, the City of Manchester Stadium.
On 1 September 2008, Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club, marking a significant turning point in its history. The group appointed Roberto Mancini as manager in December 2009, who led the club to its first Premier League title in 44 years in 2012. Following Mancini's departure, Manuel Pellegrini took over in 2013 and guided the club to another league title in 2014. In 2016, Pep Guardiola joined the club as head coach, leading them to multiple Premier League titles and making them one of the most dominant teams in English football history.
Established by St. Mark's Church of England, West Gorton, the club was initially funded by the church and its members. In 1894, the club changed its name to Manchester City. The club faced financial struggles in the 1920s and 30s and it was not until the arrival of Joe Smith in 1926 that the club's finances began to improve. Smith invested heavily in the club, both on and off the pitch, and within a year the club's finances had improved significantly.
In 2007, the club was sold to UK Sports Investments Limited, a company controlled by former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Shinawatra's investment brought a level of financial stability which the club had struggled to achieve in the past. However, his tenure was short-lived, and in 2008, he sold the club to the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), an investment company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The arrival of ADUG heralded a new era of financial power for Manchester City, with the club now able to compete with the world's biggest clubs in terms of financial muscle.
Since then, ADUG has continued to invest heavily in the club, both in terms of player acquisitions and infrastructural developments. The Etihad Campus, which includes the Etihad Stadium and the City Football Academy, is a testament to the financial power that ADUG has bestowed upon Manchester City.
The current chairman of Manchester City FC is Khaldoon Al Mubarak, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and a close associate of Sheikh Mansour. Al Mubarak has overseen the most successful period in Manchester City's history, with the club winning several major trophies under his stewardship.
Manchester City is one of the most successful clubs in Europe in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the Second Division title, which they won in 1899. In 1904, the club won their first FA Cup. Since then, they have gone on to win 7 top-division titles—including 5 Premier League titles—and their total of 6 FA Cups. Those titles have meant the club has appeared 11 times in the FA Community Shield; of those 11 appearances, Manchester City have won 5 times.
Domestic
Continental
Worldwide
Manchester City FC Official Website: Detailed history and information about Manchester City Football Club https://www.mancity.com/
Wikipedia: Manchester City F.C - An in-depth overview of the club's history, successes, and key figures https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_City_F.C.
Becoming a leading global provider of digital solutions and services for the sports industry, enabling our clients to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
We aspire to be a trusted partner and advisor to our clients, leveraging our expertise and passion for sports to help them succeed in a rapidly changing market.
