Man City history, stats & information

• Name: Manchester City
• Nickname: The Citizens
• Formed: 1880
• Stadium: Etihad Stadium
• Manager: Roberto Mancini
• League Titles (3): 1937, 1968, 2012
• FA Cups (5): 1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011
• League Cups (2): 1970, 1976
• Cup Winners' Cups (1): 1970
• Biggest Signing: £38m, Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid, July 2011
• Biggest Sale: £22m, Robinho to AC Milan, August 2010
• Leading Goalscorer: Eric Brook, 158
• Leading Appearances: Alan Oakes, 564
• Official Club Website: MCFC.co.uk

HISTORY

CITY jumped between the top two divisions in their early days winning their first piece of silverware, the FA Cup, in 1904.
Their first real sustained period of success came in the Thirties when they lost the 1933 FA Cup final, won it in 1934 and then became league champions for the first time in 1937.
But amazingly, despite being the league’s top scorers, they went down in 1938 — the only English champions to be relegated the following season.
They yo-yoed between the top two tiers in the late Fourties and early Fifties. But they were back to winning ways in 1956 when they claimed the FA Cup trophy as their German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann played on with a broken neck.
City pipped neighbours Manchester United to the title in 1968 with a 4-3 victory at Newcastle on the final day and with a team containing the likes of Francis Lee, Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee, went on to win the 1969 FA Cup and League Cup and Fairs Cup in 1970.
Another great moment for the blue half of Manchester came when former United legend Denis Law scored for City in a 1-0 victory over the Red Devils on the final day of the 1973/74 season to send them down.

IN GOOD KOMPANY ... City skipper Vincent with the Premier League trophy in 2012

The Sky Blues’ last trophy of the 20th century came with a League Cup win in 1976 as they went on to lose the FA Cup final in a replay to Tottenham in 1981 and a period of promotion and relegation between the top two divisions ensued.
City were relegated from the Premier League in 1996 and then dropped into English football’s third tier for the first time in 1998.
They were promoted at the first attempt after an amazing play-off final victory over Gillingham but then were promoted or relegated in five consecutive seasons.
Since 2002 though, the club have retained their top flight status, largely in mid-table until Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008.
City splashed the cash hoping for immediate success which was not forthcoming until Roberto Mancini led the club to Champions League football and the FA Cup trophy in 2011 — their first piece of silverware in 35 years.
It would get even better the following season and they secured their first Premier League title ahead of rivals United after two last-gasp goals against QPR on the final day of the season to get the victory required.

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CLUB ICON

CITY SLICKER ... Colin Bell

NICKNAMED ‘the King of the Kippax’, Colin Bell was one of the greatest midfielders to play on the blue side of Manchester.
In 489 appearances, Bell scored 152 goals, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup, playing alongside the likes of Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee at Maine Road.
Born in the North East, he signed for City from Bury in 1966, helping his new club to promotion into the First Division the same year.
Then in the 1967/68 season, Bell netted 14 times as the Blues secured their second ever league title with a 4-3 victory over Newcastle on the final day.
City’s assistant manager at the time, Malcolm Allison, would throw off other clubs interested in signing their star man by branding him as “hopeless”.
Bell earned 48 caps for England and scored nine goals but he disappointed in the 1970 World Cup.
When he replaced Bobby Charlton in the semi-final defeat to West-Germany, it was seen as the pivotal point in the Three Lions’ exit from the tournament.
But Bell did establish himself as one of England’s finest midfielders, including outstanding performances during a 7-0 demolition of Austria in 1973 and a 2-0 win against world champions West Germany in 1975.
Bobby Charlton stated in the forward of Bell’s autobiography that he “was unquestionably a great player” and former England team-mate Kevin Keegan said that the midfielder “had it all”.
Sadly his career was wrecked at the age of 29 when he severely injured his right knee in a challenge with Manchester United's Martin Buchan and he retired four years later having never fully recovered.
But Bell will never be forgotten by the City faithful and in 2004, fans voted to name the main stand at their new Etihad Stadium as ‘The Colin Bell Stand’.

sumber: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/premteams/man_city/4477625/Manchester-City-history-stats-and-club-information.html