Founding as St Mark's (1880)

Lore & Background

The club joined the Football League in 1892, and won their first major honour, the FA Cup, in 1904. Manchester City had its first major period of success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, winning the league title, FA Cup, League Cup, and European Cup Winners Cup under the management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison. After losing the 1981 FA Cup final, the club went through a period of decline, being relegated to the third tier of English football for the only time in their history in 1998. They regained promotion to the top tier in 1999–2000 and have remained in the Premier League since 2002–03.

Reader's Guide

Manchester City received major financial investment after its August 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan through the Abu Dhabi United Group, starting a new era of success, winning the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League in 2012. Under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola between 2016 and 2026, the club won 20 honours, including the Premier League in 2018 with a record 100 points, becoming the first English men's team to win a domestic treble, claiming the three main domestic trophies as well as the Community Shield. The club also won a continental treble in 2023, and four consecutive league titles between the 2020–21 and 2023–24 seasons – an English football record.

Did You Know?

• The club's home ground is the City of Manchester Stadium in east Manchester, to which they moved in 2003, having played at Maine Road since 1923.
• In 2022, Forbes estimated the club was the sixth-most valuable in the world, worth $4.250 billion.

Origins and Early Identity

Established in 1880 as St. Mark's in West Gorton, the club that would become a global giant began its journey under a different name before evolving into Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887. It was not until 1894 that the organization officially adopted the moniker Manchester City and introduced the iconic sky blue shirts that remain their signature today. Their early competitive history saw them join the Football League in 1892, eventually securing promotion to the First Division by winning the Second Division title in 1899.

A defining moment arrived on April 23, 1904, when they defeated Bolton Wanderers to claim their first major trophy, the FA Cup, becoming the first Manchester club to achieve such a feat. However, this golden start was marred by financial controversies leading to player suspensions in 1906 and a devastating fire at Hyde Road in 1920. These challenges prompted a significant relocation in 1923 to a purpose-built stadium at Maine Road, setting the stage for decades of future growth despite the turbulent early years.

The Golden Era and European Glory

Following a period of relegation and dwindling attendance in the mid-1960s, the club experienced a transformative resurgence under the leadership of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison. Appointed in 1965, this management duo guided City to immediate promotion and, by the 1967–68 season, secured their second league championship in a dramatic finish against local rivals Manchester United. This era marked the club's first major period of sustained success, culminating in a historic double where they won both the FA Cup and the League Cup within a single year.

Their dominance extended across the continent as they triumphed in the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Górnik Zabrze to become only the second English team to hold a European trophy alongside a domestic one simultaneously. This golden age also featured memorable moments like Denis Law's backheel goal that relegated Manchester United in 1974 and concluded with another League Cup victory in 1976, cementing their status as a powerhouse of English football before a subsequent long decline.

Modern Resurgence and Record-Breaking Success

The trajectory of the club changed dramatically following an August 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Abu Dhabi United Group, which injected significant financial resources into the organization. This new era saw immediate returns with FA Cup victories in 2011 and a Premier League title in 2012, ending a long trophy drought. The appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager from 2016 to 2026 ushered in an unprecedented period of dominance, characterized by twenty honours including a record-breaking 100-point league campaign in 2018.

Under his stewardship, City became the first English men's team to secure a domestic treble and later achieved a continental treble in 2023. Their consistency was further highlighted by winning four consecutive league titles between the 2020–21 and 2023–24 seasons, an English football record that solidified their position as the premier force in modern European competition.

Financial Powerhouse and Global Valuation

Beyond the pitch, Manchester City has evolved into a financial colossus within the global sports industry. By the end of the 2021–22 season, they topped the Deloitte Football Money League, generating approximately €731 million in revenue to become the highest-earning football club in the world. Their economic stature was further recognized by Forbes in 2022, which valued the club at $4.25 billion, ranking it as the sixth-most valuable entity globally.

This immense wealth is managed through City Football Group Limited, a holding company majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group and valued at £3.73 billion as of late 2019. The strategic investment has not only fueled on-field success but also transformed the club's infrastructure, including their move to the modern City of Manchester Stadium in 2003, replacing their long-time home at Maine Road. This financial foundation ensures continued competitiveness and global influence in the sport.