Manchester City

Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. They are the current English Premier League champions and have won the FA Cup on four occasions, the League Cup twice and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once.

Manchester City were established as St. Marks (West Gorton) in 1880 by Anna Connell and two wardens of St. Mark’s Church. In 1887 the club was renamed as Ardwick AFC and were the founding members of the Football League Division Two in 1892. In 1893 the club were rechristened as Manchester City.

Man City won the Second Division title in 1899 and won the FA Cup in 1904. In 1937 Man City won the first division for the first time in its history but were relegated the next season. But Man City recovered soon and won the FA Cup in 1956.

Man City won the FA Cup in 1969 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970 and also clinched the League Cup in that year. After that of course Man City went into a long period of decline and have not won any major honour since 1976.

Man City though have established themselves in recent years in the English Premier League. Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra took over the club in 2007 and heavily invested but he himself has been embroiled in a massive controversy back in his native Thailand as he has been charged with with several nefarious crimes.

Since September 2008 Man City have been owned been owned by Sheikh Mansour. Since the takeover the club has invested heavily in new players and currently employs Roberto Mancini as manager.

Manchester City play their home matches at the City of Manchester Stadium which has a capacity of 47,726. They are nicknamed as the Citizens, the Blues and sometimes simply as City.

Manchester City bear a huge rivalry with their city neighbours Manchester United, the team they denied on the final day of the 2011/12 season to win the English Premier League title on goal difference.