The Joe Mercer & Malcolm Allison Partnership

The Mercer-Allison era that transformed Manchester City.

The partnership of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison led Manchester City to a golden era in the late 1960s and early 1970s, winning the league title, FA Cup, League Cup, and European Cup Winners' Cup.

Quick Facts

Era start: August 1965

Lore & Background

In the summer of 1965, the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison was appointed. In their first season, City won the Second Division title and made important signings in Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell. Two seasons later, in 1967–68, City claimed the league championship for the second time, beating their close neighbours Manchester United to the title on the final day of the season with a 4–3 victory at Newcastle United. Further trophies followed: City won the FA Cup in 1969 and a year later triumphed in the European Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Górnik Zabrze 2–1 in the 1970 final. The Blues also won the League Cup that year, becoming the second English team to win a European trophy and a domestic trophy in the same season.