Best Manchester City players of all time
Manchester City Football Club is one of the oldest clubs in England with a history of ups and downs and passionate fans. In this article, after a brief review on the honors of this club, we will present a list of the Best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion!
Founded in 1880 under the original name of St. Mark, Manchester City Football Club is a professional football club in the English Premier League located in Manchester and has been called by its current name since 1894.
Manchester City is the only team in the history of the Premier League to score 100 points in one season and their heyday began in 2016 and continues. In addition, in 2019, with 4 trophies and an unprecedented record, they became the first English men's team to win the domestic trio.
With an annual income of € 568.4 million, Manchester City ranked fifth among the highest paid football clubs in 2018-19. In 2020, according to the transfer, Manchester City is the most valuable club in the world with a value of € 1.02BN based on the total value of its players.
In the following, we will briefly review the honors of Manchester City club. Then we will present a list of best Manchester City players ever in our opinion, and share the personal and professional backgrounds of each of these Manchester City legends of all time.
Best Manchester City players of all time
Before we get into the list of greatest players in the history of Manchester City in our opinion, we will have a brief overview of the honors of Manchester City Club.
Honors of Manchester City Club
First Division / Premier League (Level 1): Winners (6)
Second Division / First Division / Championship (Level 2): Winners (7)
Third Division / Second Division / League One (Level 3): Play-off winners (1)
FA Cup: Winners (6)
Football League Cup / EFL Cup: Winners (7)
FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield: Winners (6)
European / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: Winners (1)
League and EFL Cup (2) in 2013–14, 2017–18
EFL Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1) in 1969–70
Domestic Treble (League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup) (1) in 2018–19
Leagues
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Cups
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European
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Doubles
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Trebles
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In the following, we will have a brief overview of the personal and professional characteristics of the legendary Manchester City players ever in our opinion!
#1 Colin Bell
Full name:
Colin Bell
Date of birth:
26 February 1946 (age 74)
Place of birth:
Hesleden, County Durham,[1] England
Height:
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position(s):
Midfielder
National team:
1968–1975; England, 1970–1974; The Football League XI
Senior career:
Bury,
Manchester City(Appearances: 394, Goals: 117)
, San Jose Earthquakes,
The first player of the list of the
best Manchester City players ever
in our opinion is Colin Bell.
Nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" and "Nijinsky", he was part of the Bell, Lee and Summerbee legendary trio at Manchester City.
He played a stunning 13 years at Manchester City, and being part of the club's successful team in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was instrumental in Manchester City's victories.
Bell was particularly popular with the club's fans; something like a cult hero!
Among the honors of this brilliant player with Manchester City we can mention one Football League First Division title, one Football League Second Division title, one FA Cup, two FA Charity Shields, one Football League Cup, and one European Cup Winners' Cup.
And from the individual point of view, he was Manchester City Player of the Year in 1968. Being part of PFA Football League Division 1 Team of the Year (1), he was inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame in 2004 and English Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
The next player in the list of
best Manchester City players of all time
in our opinion is David Silva.
#2 David Silva
Full name:
David Josué Jiménez Silva
Date of birth:
8 January 1986 (age 34)
Place of birth:
Arguineguín, Spain
Height:
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s):
Midfielder
Current team:
Real Sociedad
National team:
2006–2018; Spain
Senior career:
Valencia, Eibar (loan), Celta (loan),
Manchester City (Appearances: 309, Goals: 60)
,
Real SociedadThe second player in the list of the
greatest players in the history of Manchester City
in our opinion is David Silva.
Nicknames "Merlin" and "El Mago", he is a talented and agile left-footed player who is known for his good dribbling skills and outstanding technical ability. His composure, excellent eyesight, ability to read the game and his flawless passes along with his clever offensive moves made him the heart of the team.
He made headlines recently, and the news of David Silva's positive Covid-19 test result on 31 August 2020 worried his fans, but fortunately this strong and lovable player has fully recovered.
His honors with Manchester City are four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five Football League/EFL Cups, and three FA Community Shields. And from the individual point of view, he was Premier League Player of the Month (1), Premier League Top Assist Provider (1), Manchester City Players' Player of the Season (1), Manchester City Player of the Month (9), FIFA FIFPro World XI Nominee (4), Manchester City Player of the Season (1).
He also was part of PFA Premier League Team of the Year (3), UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament (1), and ESM Team of the Season (1).
The next player in the list of
best Manchester City players of all time
in our opinion is Sergio Aguero.
#3 Sergio Aguero
Full name:
Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo
Date of birth:
2 June 1988 (age 32)
Place of birth:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height:
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position(s):
Striker
Current team:
Manchester City
National team:
2006–; Argentina
Senior career:
Independiente,
Atlético Madrid,
Manchester City (Appearances: 264, Goals: 180)
The next player in the list of
Manchester City best footballers of all time
in our opinion is Sergio Aguero.
Aguero who wears "Kun" on his shirt, a childhood nickname based on the title character from the cartoon Kum-Kum, is a versatile player whose playing style is characterized by agility, acceleration and strength.
Inspired by former Brazilian striker Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona as the best players to have played the game in his acting style, he married Gianinna Maradona, Maradona's youngest daughter, but unfortunately the couple separated two years after the birth of their son Benjamin.
His honors with Manchester City are four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one Runner-up, five Football League/EFL Cups, and three FA Community Shields. And from the individual point of view, he was World Soccer Young Player of the Year (1), FSF Player of the Year (1), Manchester City Player of the Year (2), and Premier League Player of the Month (7).
Being part of PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2), he has won one Premier League Golden Boot Award and one Manchester City Goal of the Season Award.
The next player in the list of
best Manchester City players of all time
in our opinion is Bert Trautmann.
#4 Bert Trautmann
Full name:
Bernhard Carl Trautmann
Date of birth:
22 October 1923
Place of birth:
Bremen, Germany
Date of death:
19 July 2013 (aged 89)
Place of death:
La Llosa, Castellón, Spain
Height:
1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s):
Goalkeeper
Senior career:
St Helens Town,
Manchester City (Appearances: 508, Goals: 0)
, Wellington Town
The next player in the list of the
legendary Manchester City players ever
in our opinion is Bert Trautmann.
Trautmann's idiosyncratic style of play also had an influence on budding young goalkeepers at the height of his career. He had an incredible talent for blocking penalties and at the height of his career he could block about 60% of penalties!
He participated in World War II from 1941 to 1944 and received five medals of honor for his admirable courage, including a first-class Iron Cross medal.
Trautmann won an FA Cup with Manchester City in 1956, and from the individual point of view, he was FWA Footballer of the Year (1).
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005, and Germany's Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, Trautmann was honored by the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1997, and the Order of the British Empire in 2004.
The next player in the list of
best Manchester City players of all time
in our opinion is Vincent Kompany.
#5 Vincent Kompany
Full name:
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany
Date of birth:
10 April 1986 (age 34)
Place of birth:
Uccle, Belgium
Height:
1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre back
Current team:
Anderlecht (manager)
National team:
2004–2019; Belgium
Senior career:
Anderlecht, Hamburger SV,
Manchester City (Appearances: 265, Goals: 18)
The next player of the list of
Manchester City legends of all time
in our opinion is Vincent Kompany.
The company is a physically strong central defender, with excellent air capability and high mobility, as well as good technique and distribution, who have an innate talent for predicting the movements of opposing players.
Among his honors with Manchester City we can mention four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one runner-up, four Football League/EFL Cups, and two FA Community Shields.
And from the individual point of view, he was Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year (1), Manchester City Official Supporter's Player of the Year (1), Manchester City Player's Player of the Year (1), and Premier League Player of the Season (1).
Being part of PFA Premier League Team of the Year (3), and ESM Team of the Year (1), he won the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2004.
The next player in the list of best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion is Eric Brook.
#6 Eric Brook
Full name:
Eric Fred Brook
Date of birth:
27 November 1907
Place of birth:
Mexborough, Yorkshire, England
Date of death:
29 March 1965 (aged 57)
Place of death:
Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, England
Playing position(s):
Outside Left
National team:
1929–1937; England, 1934-1939; The Football League XI, 1939; FA XI
Senior career:
Barnsley,
Manchester City (Appearances: 450, Goals: 158)
The next player in the list of Manchester City best footballers of all time in our opinion is Eric Brook.
He was a very strong muscular player and his shots were very strong and fast. In addition, he was a talented penalty taker and holds a special place as one of the best pre-war players in the history of Manchester City, England and football fans.
His honors with Manchester City are one FA Cup, one Football League First Division, and one FA Community Shield. He was inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame in 2004.
The next place in the list of best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion belongs to Yaya Toure.
#7 Yaya Toure
Full name:
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré
Date of birth:
13 May 1983 (age 37)
Place of birth:
Bouaké, Ivory Coast
Height:
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s):
Midfielder
National team:
2004–; Ivory Coast
Senior career:
Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos, Monaco, Barcelona,
Manchester City (Appearances: 230, Goals: 59)
, Qingdao Huanghai
The next player in the list of best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion is Yaya Toure.
Referred to as a "human train" and a "colossus" by various pundits, Toure is a complete and versatile midfielder who often plays as a box-to-box midfielder. His main strengths are vision, physical ability, ball control and speed. Toure is often pushed forward in the second half of the tournament and is known for scoring in the final minutes of the game.
His honors with Manchester City are three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one runner-up, two Football League Cups, and one FA Community Shield.
And from the individual point of view, he was Ivory Coast Player of the Year (1), African Footballer of the Year (4), BBC African Footballer of the Year (2), and Manchester City Player of the Year (1), and part of CAF Team of the Year (7), ESM Team of the Year (1), PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2), and Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament (1).
The next player in the list of best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion is Mike Summerbee.
#8 Mike Summerbee
Full name:
Mike Summerbee
Date of birth:
15 December 1942 (age 77)
Place of birth:
Preston, England
Playing position(s):
Winger / forward
National team:
1968–1973; England
Senior career:
Swindon Town,
Manchester City (Appearances: 357, Goals: 47)
, Burnley, Blackpool, Stockport County, Mossley
The next player in the list of best Manchester City players ever in our opinion is Mike Summerbee.
It was a wonderful decade for the Englishman and the Citizens, who were the perfect match. Adored by the fans and his fellow players, Summerbee became an icon in the late 60s, when he and the club would win four major honors in the space of three seasons.
His honors with Manchester City are one Second Division champions, one First Division champions, one FA Cup, one League Cup, one European Cup Winners' Cup, and two FA Charity Shields.
And from the individual point of view, he was Swindon Town F.C. Player of the Season in 1964–65, and Manchester City F.C. Player of the Year in 1972 and 1973, and was inducted into the Manchester City F.C. Hall of Fame in 2004.
The next player in the list of best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion is Kevin De Bruyne.
#9 Kevin De Bruyne
Full name:
Kevin De Bruyne
Date of birth:
28 June 1991 (age 29)
Place of birth:
Drongen, Belgium
Height:
1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s):
Midfielder
Current team:
Manchester City
National team:
2010–; Belgium
Senior career:
Genk, Chelsea, Werder Bremen (loan), VfL Wolfsburg,
Manchester City (Appearances: 155, Goals: 37)
The next player of our list of greatest players in the history of Manchester City in our opinion is Kevin De Bruyne.
Described as a "complete" footballer and the "most complete modern day advanced playmaker', he has great technique, skill, athleticism, work-rate off the ball, vision, crossing accuracy, wide range of passing, and powerful long-range shooting ability with either foot.
His honors with Manchester City is are two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, four Football League/EFL Cups and one FA Community Shield.
And from the individual point of view, he was Bundesliga Player of the Year (1), Footballer of the Year (Germany) (1), Belgian Sportsman of the Year (1), Manchester City Player of the Season (3), Premier League Playmaker of the Season (2), Premier League Player of the Season (1), PFA Players' Player of the Year (1), and UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season (1).
Being part of UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season (1), IFFHS Men's World Team (2), UEFA Team of the Year (2), PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2), UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season (3), and FIFA World Cup Dream Team (1), he won the Manchester City Goal of the Season Award in 2019-20.
Another player in the list of best Manchester City players of all time in our opinion is Neil Young.
#10 Neil Young
Full name:
Neil James Young
Date of birth:
17 February 1944
Place of birth:
Fallowfield, Manchester, England
Date of death:
3 February 2011 (aged 66)
Height:
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position(s):
Inside-forward / Winger
Senior career: Manchester City (Appearances: 334, Goals: 86)
, Preston North End, Rochdale
National team:
England Youth
Next player of the list of legendary Manchester City players ever in our opinion is Neil Young.
Young, who played for Manchester City for 11 seasons, was a calm and ethical player who was very popular with the club's fans in the 1960s.
He was instrumental in Manchester City's victories in the late 1960s and early 1970s. One of his most brilliant moments at Manchester City was scoring the only goal of the team in the 1969 FA Cup final. He also scored in the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup Final.
Some of his honors with Manchester City are one First Division title, one Second Division title, one FA Cup, one FA Charity Shield, and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
And finally, the last player in the list of Manchester City legends of all time in our opinion is Pablo Zabaleta.
#11 Pablo Zabaleta
Full name:
Pablo Javier Zabaleta Girod
Date of birth:
16 January 1985 (age 35)
Place of birth:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height:
1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s):
Right back
National team:
2005–2016; Argentina
Senior career:
San Lorenzo, Espanyol,
Manchester City (Appearances: 230, Goals: 9)
, West Ham
Last player of the list of Manchester City best footballers of all time in our opinion is Pablo Zabaleta.
In the summer of 2008, just one day before the acquisition of Manchester City by the Abu Dhabi United team led by Sheikh Mansour, Zabaleta joined the team, rejecting Juventus' offer.
After his last game with Manchester City, he was praised by the City manager, Pep Guardiola, as a "legend" and was given a lifetime season ticket for the team and a shirt that read "Zabaleta 333", to mark the number of City appearances he made.
Some of his honors with Manchester City are two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one runner-up, two Football League Cups and one FA Community Shield. He also was part of PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2012-13.
Follow our next articles to pay more attention to the other proud players of Manchester City!
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