Editing Manchester City F.C. (section)

==History==
{{main|History of Manchester City F.C.}}

===Early years and first trophies===
[[File:St Marks 1884.jpg|thumb|right|270px|St. Marks (Gorton) in 1884&nbsp;– the reason for the [[cross pattée]] on the shirts is now unknown.<ref name="mcfcoffhist">{{cite web |title=Club History&nbsp;– The Club – Manchester City FC |url=https://www.mancity.com/fans-and-community/club/club-history |publisher=mancity.com |access-date=9 September 2010 |archive-date=7 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907013909/http://www.mancity.com/fans-and-community/club/club-history |url-status=live }}</ref>|alt=Fifteen men posing across three rows. Eleven of the men are wearing a football kit with a Maltese Cross on the breast. The other four are wearing suits and top hats.]]
City gained their first honours by winning the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] in [[1898–99 Football League#Second Division|1899]]; with it came promotion to the highest level in English football, the [[Football League First Division|First Division]]. They went on to claim their first major honour on [[1904 FA Cup final|23 April 1904]], beating [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] 1–0 at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace]] to win the [[FA Cup]]; the Blues narrowly missed out on a [[Double (association football)#England|League and Cup double]] that season after finishing runners-up in the [[1903–04 Football League#First Division|league campaign]], but they still became the first club in Manchester to win a major honour.<ref>James, ''Manchester City – The Complete Record'', p32</ref> In the seasons following the FA Cup triumph, the club was dogged by allegations of financial irregularities, culminating in the suspension of seventeen players in 1906, including captain [[Billy Meredith]], who subsequently moved across town to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>James, ''Manchester:The Greatest City'', pp 59–65.</ref> A fire at [[Hyde Road (stadium)|Hyde Road]] destroyed the main stand in 1920, and in 1923 the club moved to their new purpose-built stadium at [[Maine Road]] in [[Moss Side]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Maine Road through the ages |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/3011895.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2003 |access-date=10 September 2011 |first=Chris |last=Bevan |archive-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907005325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/3011895.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:ManCity1904.jpg|thumb|right|270px|The Manchester City team which won the FA Cup in [[1903–04 FA Cup|1903–04]].|alt=A group of thirteen men, eleven in association football attire typical of the early twentieth century, and two in suits. A trophy sits in front of them.]]
In the 1930s, Manchester City reached two consecutive FA Cup finals, losing to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in [[1933 FA Cup final|1933]], before claiming the Cup by beating [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] in [[1934 FA Cup final|1934]].<ref>Ward, ''The Manchester City Story'', pp. 31–33</ref> During the 1934 run, the club broke the record for the [[List of record home attendances of English football clubs|highest home attendance]] of any club in English football history, as 84,569 fans packed Maine Road for a sixth-round FA Cup tie against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] – a record which stood until 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=FA Cup special: Thrills, spills and a cast of thousands at Maine Road |last=James |first=Gary |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1418817_fa-cup-special-thrills-spills-and-a-cast-of-thousands-at-maine-road?order=liked#comments |publisher=menmedia.co.uk |date=22 April 2011 |access-date=23 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112175959/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1418817_fa-cup-special-thrills-spills-and-a-cast-of-thousands-at-maine-road?order=liked |archive-date=12 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McNulty |first=Phil |date=2 November 2016 |title=Spurs' Wembley curse strikes again |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37839379 |access-date=13 June 2020 |website=BBC Sport |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026082942/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37839379 |url-status=live }}</ref> The club won the First Division title for the first time in 1937, but were relegated the following season, despite scoring more goals than any other team in the division.<ref>{{cite web |title=England 1937/38 |work=league table from RSSSF |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1937-38.html |access-date=29 December 2005 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228002704/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1937-38.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Twenty years later, a City team inspired by a tactical system known as the [[Revie Plan]] reached consecutive FA Cup finals again, in [[1955 FA Cup final|1955]] and [[1956 FA Cup final|1956]]; just as in the 1930s, they lost the first one, to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], and won the second. The 1956 final, in which the Blues defeated [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] 3–1, saw City goalkeeper [[Bert Trautmann]] continuing to play on after unknowingly breaking his neck.<ref>Rowlands, ''Trautmann – The Biography'', pp. 178–184</ref>

===First golden era and subsequent decline===
After being relegated to the Second Division in [[1962–63 Football League First Division|1963]], the future looked bleak with a record low home attendance of 8,015 against [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in January 1965.<ref>Ward, ''The Manchester City Story'', p. 57</ref> In the summer of 1965, the management team of [[Joe Mercer]] and [[Malcolm Allison]] was appointed. In the first season under Mercer, Manchester City won the [[1965–66 Football League#Second Division|Second Division title]] and made important signings in [[Mike Summerbee]] and [[Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946)|Colin Bell]].<ref>Penney, ''Manchester City – The Mercer-Allison Years'', pp. 27–36</ref> Two seasons later, in [[1967–68 Manchester City F.C. season|1967–68]], City claimed the [[1967–68 Football League First Division|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.<ref>Penney, ''Manchester City – The Mercer-Allison Years'', pp. 37–56</ref> Further trophies followed: City won the FA Cup in [[1969 FA Cup final|1969]] and a year later triumphed in the [[1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]], defeating [[Górnik Zabrze]] 2–1 in the [[1970 European Cup Winners' Cup final|1970 final]]. This was the club's only European honour until their triumph in the [[2022–23 UEFA Champions League]].<ref>Gardner, ''The Manchester City Football Book No. 2'', pp. 13–22</ref> The Blues also won the [[1969–70 Football League Cup|League Cup]] that year, becoming the second English team to win a European trophy and a domestic trophy in the same season.

The club continued to challenge for honours throughout the 1970s, finishing one point behind the league champions on two occasions and reaching the [[1974 Football League Cup final|final]] of the [[1973–74 Football League Cup|1974 League Cup]].<ref>James, ''Manchester City – The Complete Record'', pp. 410–420</ref> One of the matches from this period that is most fondly remembered by supporters of Manchester City is the final match of the [[1973–74 Football League First Division|1973–74 season]] against [[Manchester derby|arch-rivals]] Manchester United, who needed to win to have any hope of avoiding relegation. Former United player [[Denis Law]] scored with a backheel to give City a 1–0 win at Old Trafford and confirm the relegation of their rivals.<ref>Other results meant United would have been relegated even if they had won or drawn, but neither team knew this at the time.</ref><ref>Ward, ''The Manchester City Story'', p. 70</ref> The final trophy of the club's most successful period of the 20th century was won in 1976, when Newcastle United were beaten 2–1 in the [[1976 Football League Cup final|League Cup final]].

[[File:ManchesterCityFC League Performance.svg|thumb|left|380px|Chart of yearly table positions of City in the Football League]]
A long period of decline followed the success of the 1960s and 1970s. Malcolm Allison rejoined the club to become manager for the second time in 1979, but squandered large sums of money on several unsuccessful signings, such as [[Steve Daley]].<ref>Tossell, ''Big Mal'', Chapter 18</ref> A succession of managers then followed – seven in the 1980s alone. Under [[John Bond (footballer)|John Bond]], City reached the [[1981 FA Cup final]] but lost in a replay to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. The club were twice relegated from the top flight in the 1980s (in [[1982–83 Football League#First Division|1983]] and [[1986–87 Football League#First Division|1987]]), but returned to the top flight again in [[1988–89 Football League#Second Division|1989]] under [[Mel Machin]]. [[Howard Kendall]] guided the club to top flight safety in [[1989–90 Football League First Division|1990]] and the club finished fifth in [[1990–91 Football League First Division|1991]] and [[1991–92 Football League First Division|1992]] under the management of active player [[Peter Reid]].<ref>James, ''Manchester City – The Complete Record'', p. 68</ref> However, this was only a temporary respite, and following Reid's departure Manchester City's fortunes continued to fade. City were co-founders of the [[Premier League]] upon its creation in [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992]], but after finishing ninth in its first season, [[Peter Swales]], club chairman since 1973, was replaced by club legend [[Francis Lee (footballer)|Francis Lee]] in February 1994 in a movement supported by fans. Despite this, they endured three years of struggle under [[Brian Horton]] and [[Alan Ball Jr.]] before being relegated in dramatic fashion in [[1995–96 FA Premier League|1996]]. After two seasons in the First Division{{efn|name=Prem|Until [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992]], the top division of English football was the [[Football League First Division]]; since then, it has been the [[Premier League|FA Premier League]]. At the same time, the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] was renamed the First Division, and the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] was renamed the Second Division.}} and four different permanent managers, Lee resigned from his role as chairman midway through the [[1997–98 Football League First Division|1998]] season, although remained as a shareholder, as City fell to the lowest point in their history, becoming the second ever European trophy winners to be relegated to their country's third-tier league after [[1. FC Magdeburg]] of Germany.

===Recovery and two takeovers===
After relegation, the club underwent off-the-field upheaval, with new chairman [[David Bernstein (executive)|David Bernstein]] introducing greater fiscal discipline.<ref>{{cite book |last=Buckley |first=Andy |author2=Burgess, Richard |title=Blue Moon Rising: The Fall and Rise of Manchester City |publisher=Milo |location=Bury |year=2000 |isbn=0-9530847-4-4}} p. 177</ref> Under manager [[Joe Royle]], City were promoted at the first attempt, achieved in dramatic fashion in the [[1999 Football League Second Division play-off final|Second Division play-off final]] against [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/02/manchester-united-treble-city-third-tier-may-1999-late-goals|title=When Manchester City escaped the third tier – as United won the treble|date=1 June 2023|author=Richard Foster|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 June 2023|archive-date=2 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602111829/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/02/manchester-united-treble-city-third-tier-may-1999-late-goals|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[1999–2000 Football League#First Division|second successive promotion]] saw City return to the top division, but this proved to have been a step too far for the recovering club, and in [[2000–01 FA Premier League|2001]] City were relegated once more. [[Kevin Keegan]] replaced Royle as manager in the close season, and achieved an immediate return to the top division as the club won the [[2001–02 Football League#First Division|2001–02 First Division championship]], breaking club records for the number of points gained and goals scored in a single season in the process.<ref>Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 265</ref> The [[2002–03 Manchester City F.C. season|2002–03 season]] was the last at Maine Road and included a 3–1 derby victory over rivals Manchester United, ending a 13-year run without a [[Manchester derby|derby]] win.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/1109/manchester.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219015810/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/1109/manchester.htm |archive-date=19 December 2007 |title=Goater double gives City derby win |access-date=28 May 2007 |work=RTÉ}}</ref> Additionally, City qualified for European competition for the first time in 25 years via [[UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking#Qualification system|UEFA fair play ranking]]. In the close [[2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season|2003–04 season]], the club moved to the new [[City of Manchester Stadium]]. The first four seasons at the stadium all resulted in mid-table finishes. Former England manager [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]] became the club's first foreign manager when appointed in [[2007–08 Manchester City F.C. season|2007]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/6241052.stm |title=Eriksson named Man City manager |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=20 July 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=9 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709191704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/6241052.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> After a bright start, performances faded in the second half of the season, and Eriksson was sacked on 2 June 2008;<ref>{{cite news |title=Eriksson's reign at Man City ends |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7430827.stm |access-date=2 June 2008 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112223023/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7430827.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> he was replaced by [[Mark Hughes]] two days later.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester City appoint Mark Hughes |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/2008/06/04/city-appoint-mark-hughes/1447547750604 |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=21 October 2009 |archive-date=20 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143306/https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/2008/06/04/city-appoint-mark-hughes/1447547750604 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 2008, Manchester City were in a financially precarious position. [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] had taken control of the club the year before, but his political travails saw his assets frozen.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thaksin Shinawatra's crisis ends Manchester City's European dream |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/2548558/Thaksin-Shinawatras-crisis-ends-Manchester-Citys-European-dream-Football.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/2548558/Thaksin-Shinawatras-crisis-ends-Manchester-Citys-European-dream-Football.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=Daily Telegraph |date=12 August 2008 |access-date=4 September 2010 |location=London |first=Ian |last=Winrow}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Then, in August 2008, City were purchased by the [[Abu Dhabi United Group]]. The takeover was immediately followed by a flurry of bids for high-profile players; the club broke the British transfer record by signing [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian international]] [[Robinho]] from [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] for £32.5&nbsp;million (€42.5&nbsp;million).<ref name="Robinho">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7593026.stm |title=Man City beat Chelsea to Robinho |publisher=BBC |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=19 September 2009 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702234242/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7593026.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> There was not a huge improvement in performance compared to the previous season despite the influx of money however, with the team [[2008–09 Premier League|finishing tenth]], although they did well to reach the quarter-finals of the [[2008–09 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]]. During the summer of 2009, the club took transfer spending to an unprecedented level, with an outlay of over £100&nbsp;million on players [[Gareth Barry]], [[Roque Santa Cruz]], [[Kolo Touré]], [[Emmanuel Adebayor]], [[Carlos Tevez]], and [[Joleon Lescott]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8216645.stm |title=Lescott completes Man City move |date=25 August 2009 |access-date=12 September 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112223026/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8216645.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2009, Mark Hughes – who had been hired shortly before the change in ownership but was originally retained by the new board – was replaced as manager by [[Roberto Mancini]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8422676.stm |title=Mark Hughes sacked as Man City appoint Mancini manager |access-date=19 December 2009 |date=19 December 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113023506/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8422676.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> City finished the [[2009–10 Manchester City F.C. season|season]] in fifth position in the [[2009–10 Premier League|Premier League]], narrowly missing out on a place in the [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] but qualifying for the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2009/10 Season Review |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/693654 |publisher=Premier League |date=25 May 2018 |access-date=7 October 2019 |archive-date=8 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008025134/https://www.premierleague.com/news/693654 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Second golden era and arrival of Pep Guardiola===
Continued investment in players followed in successive seasons, and results began to match the upturn in player quality. After heavy speculation, Roberto Mancini confirmed that a move of [[Edin Džeko]] from [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] for a fee of £27&nbsp;million (€32&nbsp;million) had been agreed on 3 January 2011. This was City's second highest transfer figure, after Robinho's move from Real Madrid for £32.5&nbsp;million in 2008. The transfer fee was the sixth highest in Premier League history at the time.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2011 |title=Sjaji, sjaji dijamantu! |url=http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/clanak/110115091 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103200844/http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/clanak/110115091 |archive-date=3 November 2011 |access-date=16 January 2011 |publisher=Sarajevo-x.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 January 2011 |title=Džeko nadmašio Gomeza |url=http://sportsport.ba/ino_fudbalp-49720.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112023757/http://www.sportsport.ba/ino_fudbalp-49720.htm |archive-date=12 January 2011 |access-date=10 January 2011 |publisher=SportSport.ba}}</ref> City reached the [[2011 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]] in 2011, their first major final in over 30 years, after defeating derby rivals Manchester United in the semi-finals,<ref>{{cite news |title=Man City 1 – 0 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9457489.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2011 |access-date=11 May 2011 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112223026/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9457489.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> the first time they had knocked their rival out of a cup competition since 1975. The Blues defeated [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] 1–0 in the final, securing their fifth FA Cup and the club's first major trophy since winning the 1976 League Cup. On the last day of the [[2010–11 Manchester City F.C. season|2010–11 season]], City beat out [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] for the third place, thereby securing qualification directly into the Champions League group stage.<ref>{{cite news |title=City slickers clinch third place |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/bolton-vs-man-city/215422 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=7 October 2019 |archive-date=8 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008025134/https://www.skysports.com/football/bolton-vs-man-city/215422 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Manchester City pitch invasion.JPG|thumb|right|330px|Manchester City [[Manchester City F.C. supporters|supporters]] [[Pitch invasion|invade the pitch]] following their [[2011–12 Premier League]] title victory.]]
Strong performances continued to follow in the [[2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season|2011–12 season]], including a 5–1 victory over Tottenham at [[White Hart Lane]] and a record-equalling [[Manchester United F.C. 1–6 Manchester City F.C.|6–1 win]] over Manchester United at [[Old Trafford]], but a poor run of form in the second half of the season left City in second place, eight points behind United with only six games left to play. At this point, United suffered their own loss of form, dropping eight points in the space of four games, while City began a run of successive wins which saw both teams level on points with two games to go. Despite the Blues only needing a home win against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], a team in the relegation zone, they fell 1–2 behind by the end of normal time. However, two goals in injury time – [[Manchester City F.C. 3–2 Queens Park Rangers F.C.#"That Aguero goal"|the second by Sergio Agüero in the fourth added minute]] – settled the title in City's favour, making them the first team to win the Premier League on goal difference alone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/premier-league-explained#:~:text=The%20narrowest%20winning%20margin%20of,dramatic%20of%20Premier%20League%20finishes. |title=Premier League explained |work=[[Premier League]] |date=2022 |accessdate=27 September 2023 }}</ref>

The [[2012–13 Manchester City F.C. season|following season]], City were unable to replicate the previous year's success. After finishing second in the [[2012–13 Premier League|league]], eleven points behind Manchester United, and losing the [[2013 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]] 0–1 to relegated [[Wigan Athletic A.F.C.|Wigan Athletic]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22409634 |title=FA Cup final: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic |work=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2013 |access-date=20 November 2019 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024064951/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22409634 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mancini was sacked.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roberto Mancini: Manchester City sack manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22507128 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2013 |access-date=19 April 2017 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502100938/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22507128 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was replaced by Chilean manager [[Manuel Pellegrini]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City appoint Chilean as manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22909811 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 June 2013 |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016200050/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22909811 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Pellegrini's [[2013–14 Manchester City F.C. season|first year]] in charge, City won the [[2013–14 Football League Cup|League Cup]] and regained the [[2013–14 Premier League|Premier League title]] on the last matchday of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Rourke |first=Pete |title=Capital One Cup final: Manchester City win Capital One Cup after beating Sunderland 3–1 |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/307826/report |access-date=11 May 2014 |newspaper=[[Sky Sports News]] |date=2 March 2014 |archive-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829160309/http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/307826/report |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester City crowned Premier League champions with 2–0 victory over West Ham |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/287660/report |access-date=11 May 2014 |work=[[Sky Sports]] |date=11 May 2014 |archive-date=28 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428033957/http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/287660/report |url-status=live }}</ref> The team's league form then slowly declined over the next couple of years, as the Blues finished second in [[2014–15 Premier League|2014–15]] and then dropped to fourth in [[2015–16 Premier League|2015–16]], although the [[2015–16 Manchester City F.C. season|2015–16 season]] would see City win [[2015–16 Football League Cup|another League Cup title]] and reach the [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] semi-finals for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steinberg |first1=Jacob |title=Manuel Pellegrini stands tall despite looming shadow of Pep Guardiola |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/23/manuel-pellegrini-pep-guardiola-manchester-city-west-ham |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 May 2019 |date=23 November 2018 |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128131915/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/23/manuel-pellegrini-pep-guardiola-manchester-city-west-ham |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Centre d'entraînement Manchester City 20-02-15.jpg|thumb|left|380px|Manchester City moved into their new complex at the [[Etihad Campus]] adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium in 2014.]]
[[Pep Guardiola]], former head coach of [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], was confirmed to become Manchester City's new manager on 1 February 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=Manchester City to give Pep Guardiola £150m to spend on players|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/01/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-new-manager-summer|website=[[The Guardian]]|author=Jackson, Jamie|date=1 February 2016|access-date=15 October 2022|archive-date=15 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015110824/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/01/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-new-manager-summer|url-status=live}}</ref> with the announcement having been made several months before Manuel Pellegrini left his position. Guardiola's [[2016–17 Manchester City F.C. season|first season]] in Manchester would end trophyless, with the Blues placing third in the [[2016–17 Premier League|league]] standings,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/10887829/manchester-city-201617-premier-league-season-review |title=Manchester City 2016/17 Premier League season review |work=[[Sky Sports]] |date=21 May 2017 |accessdate=26 September 2023}}</ref> but the [[2017–18 Manchester City F.C. season|following season]] proved far more successful, as City won the [[2017–18 Premier League|Premier League]] title with the highest points total in history and broke numerous other [[List of Manchester City F.C. records and statistics|club]] and [[Football records and statistics in England|English league records]] along the way.<ref>{{cite web |title=Which records have Man City broken in 2017/18? |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/666355 |website=premierleague.com |access-date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522174636/https://www.premierleague.com/news/666355 |url-status=live }}</ref>

This would prove to be the start of a period of unprecedented success for Manchester City under Guardiola. Between the 2017–18 and [[2023–24 Premier League]] seasons, City won six out of possible seven league titles, only finishing second behind [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the [[2019–20 Premier League|2019–20 season]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Man City win third successive Premier League title |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65613744 |date=20 May 2023 |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> Guardiola also guided the Blues to silverware in domestic cup competitions, highlighted by four consecutive League Cup triumphs in 2018–[[2021 EFL Cup final|2021]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Man City beat Spurs to lift Carabao Cup|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56790307|access-date=2021-04-25}}</ref> During the [[2018–19 Manchester City F.C. season|2018–19 season]], City completed an unprecedented [[Treble (association football)#Domestic trebles|domestic treble]] of English men's titles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bullin |first1=Matt |title=Man City win treble – how impressive is that achievement? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48321358 |access-date=21 May 2019 |date=18 May 2019 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518181210/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48321358 |url-status=live }}</ref> Apart from winning all three of the major English football tournaments, they also won the [[2018 FA Community Shield|Community Shield]], the first time any team has ever held all four of England's primary football trophies at the same time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/man-city-201819-season-review-good-things-come-in-threes-25703375|title = Man City 2018/19 season review: Good things come in threes| date=14 May 2019 }}</ref> On the continental stage, the club achieved breakthrough in [[2020–21 Manchester City F.C. season|2020–21]], reaching their first-ever [[2021 UEFA Champions League final|Champions League final]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Man City reach first Champions League final|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56973031|access-date=2021-08-12|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505085806/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56973031|url-status=live}}</ref> In an all-English affair, City lost 0–1 to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at the [[Estádio do Dragão]] in [[Porto]].<ref>{{cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2021-05-29|title=Man. City 0-1 Chelsea: Havertz gives Blues second Champions League triumph|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0269-12650cedca55-37515f69768e-1000--man-city-0-1-chelsea-havertz-gives-blues-second-champions/|access-date=2021-08-12|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en|archive-date=30 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530152324/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029498--man-city-vs-chelsea/postmatch/report/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:City team 08102022.jpg|thumb|right|320px|The Manchester City team, with [[mascot]]s, about to face [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in the [[2022–23 Premier League]]. From left to right on back row: Moonchester, [[Manuel Akanji]], [[Nathan Aké]], [[Ederson (footballer, born 1993)|Ederson]], [[Rodri (footballer, born 1996)|Rodri]], [[Rúben Dias]], [[Phil Foden]], [[Kevin De Bruyne]], [[João Cancelo]], [[Riyad Mahrez]], [[Bernardo Silva]], [[Erling Haaland]], and Moonbeam.]]
The [[2022–23 Manchester City F.C. season|2022–23 season]] turned out to be the greatest in the club's history, as Manchester City won their third consecutive Premier League title, the [[2023 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]] against rivals Manchester United, and their maiden [[2022–23 UEFA Champions League|Champions League title]] at the [[Atatürk Olympic Stadium]] in [[Istanbul]] against [[Inter Milan]], thereby assembling a rare feat – the [[Treble (association football)#Continental trebles|continental treble]]. The road to the Champions League victory included wins over European giants Bayern Munich, who were defeated 4–1 on aggregate,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/19/sports/soccer/manchester-city-bayern-champions-league.html|title=At Manchester City, an Elusive Prize Comes Back Into Focus|website=[[The New York Times]]|author=Rory Smith|date=19 April 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}}</ref> and Real Madrid, who suffered a 1–5 aggregate loss at the hands of City.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rory Smith |date=17 May 2023 |title=With Stakes at Their Highest, Manchester City Rises Higher Still |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/sports/soccer/manchester-city-real-madrid-uefa-champions-league-semifinal-second-leg.html |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65845807 |title=Man City win Champions League: Rodri goal secures victory against Inter and completes treble |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=10 June 2023 |access-date=10 June 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611095758/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65845807 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="UEFA">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0282-1839b24603ef-36e94e63621d-1000/ |title=Man City win Champions League: Rodri goal secures victory against Inter and completes treble |work=[[UEFA]] |date=10 June 2023 |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> The following [[2023–24 Manchester City F.C. season|season]] saw considerably less success for the Blues, as they won the [[2023 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]] and [[2023 FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup]] for the first time and became the first English men's club to win four consecutive league titles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester City win record fourth English title in a row as Foden scores twice in 3-1 win over West Ham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/czkvkp3ej9xt |date=19 May 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> City also advanced to the [[2024 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]] for the second straight year but lost in a rematch to rivals Manchester United.

Manchester City's era of sustained competitive excellence coincided with charges of breaching [[UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations|Financial Fair Play]] (FFP) regulations. In 2020, the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) ruled that sanctions placed on the club by [[UEFA]] were not justified, overturning City's two-year European ban.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ozasp-uk-soccer-england-mci-cas-idAFKCN24E0XD-OZASP |title=Man City's ban from European football overturned - CAS |work=[[Reuters]] |date=13 July 2020 |accessdate=26 September 2023}}</ref> In 2023, the Premier League announced its own investigation of the allegations levied against Manchester City, charging the club with 115 breaches of its FFP rules up to the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/12804623/man-city-premier-league-charges-explained-what-are-they-what-could-punishment-be-whats-the-timescale |title=Man City Premier League charges explained: What are they? What could punishment be? What's the timescale? |work=[[Sky Sports]] |date=10 June 2023 |accessdate=26 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3045970 |title=Premier League statement| work=[[Premier League]] |date=6 Feb 2023 |accessdate=16 Dec 2024}}</ref>

===League history===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align: top; font-size: 95%;"
|
* 1892–1899 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1899–1902 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1902–1903 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1903–1909 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1909–1910 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
|
* 1910–1926 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1926–1928 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1928–1938 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1938–1947 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1947–1950 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
|
* 1950–1951 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1951–1963 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1963–1966 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1966–1983 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1983–1985 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
|
* 1985–1987 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1987–1989 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L2)
* 1989–1992 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L1)
* 1992–1996 [[Premier League]] (L1)
* 1996–1998 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L2)
|
* 1998–1999 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]] (L3)
* 1999–2000 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L2)
* 2000–2001 [[Premier League]] (L1)
* 2001–2002 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (L2)
* 2002– [[Premier League]] (L1)
|}
{{smalldiv|1=L1 = Level 1 of the football league system; L2 = Level 2 of the football league system; L3 = Level 3 of the football league system.}}