Miracle at the Etihad

Manchester City Football Club, commonly known as Man City, is an English professional football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's (West Gorton), they became Ardwick in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894. The club compete in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and have won the league title seven times, including four Premier League titles in 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18 and 2018–19.

The club was founded by Anna Connell as "St. Mark's (West Gorton)" in order to give the local church cricketers something to do during the winter months. They moved to a new ground called Hyde Road in 1887 and were subsequently renamed "Ardwick A.F.C." In 1894, the club was renamed Manchester City F.C. to reflect the club's basing in Manchester.

Today, Manchester City's home ground is the Etihad Stadium, a modern-day 55,000 seat arena located in Manchester's east end. From c. 1920-2003 they were based at Maine Road, which had a capacity of around 80,000 at its peak but was considered outdated by the time it closed. Moving to the Etihad has allowed the club to better meet the demands of the modern game and generate greater commercial revenue through corporate hospitality and other ventures.

The club's traditional colors are light blue shirts, white shorts, and white socks. City's most prominent rival is Manchester United, against whom they contest the Manchester derby. Matches between the two clubs are fiercely contested as they are two of the most successful and largest clubs in England. Since the 2008 takeover of the club by Abu Dhabi United Group, City's parent company has made significant investment in players and infrastructure to become one of the richest football clubs in the world. Under this new ownership, City won four Premier League trophies in the past decade, establishing themselves as a major force in domestic and European football.

On the pitch, Manchester City's first period of success was in the late 1960s and early 1970s under legendary manager Joe Mercer and captain Francis Lee, when they won the league title in 1968 and the FA Cup in 1969. More league titles followed in 1937, 1968, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019. The 2012 and 2014 Premier League title wins were their first in 44 years. City dominated English football between 2011-2019, winning the league title four times during this period while also gaining major trophies in other competitions.

City have also been successful in cup competitions, having won the FA Cup six times, the Football League/EFL Cup eight times, and the Community Shield five times. In continental competitions, City have won one European Cup Winners' Cup and have been European Cup/UEFA Champions League runners-up in 2016. City have enjoyed unprecedented success over the last decade under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, widely considered one of the greatest managers of all time. Guardiola has helped implement his trademark possession-based playing style, elevating City to be one of Europe's most exciting teams to watch while delivering trophies.

Some of Manchester City's greatest ever players including Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Mike Summerbee, David Silva, and Sergio Agüero. Silva in particular has developed a cult following among City fans as their all-time highest assist provider. Agüero's last-minute goal against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2011-12 season that delivered City's first league title in 44 years is considered one of the most dramatic moments in Premier League history. The club has also been home to world-class players such as Yaya Touré, Vincent Kompany, and Kevin De Bruyne in recent seasons.

Beyond the pitch, Manchester City has developed into one of England's most well-supported clubs with fans worldwide as a result of their dramatic resurgence under new ownership. Their modern new stadium provides a world-class matchday experience and attracts some of the highest attendances in the Premier League. With significant investment, state-of-the-art training facilities, and a clear vision, City are determined to cement their place among Europe's elite clubs in the coming years. Their incredible trophy haul over the past decade suggests they are well on their way to achieving this goal.