12 Greatest Manchester City Strikers Of All Time
4. Erling Haaland (2022-present)
Erling Haaland joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022 from Borussia Dortmund, quickly establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers. In his debut season, he broke numerous records, including the most goals in a single Premier League season, showcasing his clinical finishing and physical prowess. His ability to find the back of the net consistently made him an indispensable asset for City’s attack.
Haaland’s impact extended beyond individual accolades; he played a crucial role in Manchester City’s successful campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His presence added a new dimension to Pep Guardiola’s team, making City more formidable and versatile in their attacking approach. Haaland’s blend of speed, strength, and technical skill ensured he remained a key figure in City’s quest for silverware.
3. Francis Lee [1967-1974]
Lee was an integral part of City’s most successful ever team. Manchester City manager Joe Mercer signed him for a club-record transfer fee of £60,000 in 1967. Fans admired his strength and tenacity.
In his first season at the club, he scored 16 League goals in 31 appearances, playing a crucial role in City’s push for the 1967–68 League Championship; Mercer described him as “the final piece of the jigsaw”. The title was decided on the final day of the season, City requiring a win at Newcastle United. City won the match 4–3, Lee scoring one of the goals, and were crowned champions.
The following season Lee was part of the Manchester City team which won the 1969 FA Cup. Part of the suitably named ‘Holy Trinity’ of Bell, Summerbee and Lee, he remains one of the club’s greatest players ever.
2. Peter Doherty
A pre-war hero, who many older fans argue was even better than Colin Bell and regarded him as the greatest Manchester City player ever.
Peter Doherty was not an out-and-out striker, but he played as a forward. He scored 82 goals in 134 appearances before the Second World War cut his career short. He also led the club to their first-ever league title in 1936-37.
Joe Mercer, who played against Doherty while with Everton later claimed: “Of all the opponents I faced I particularly remember Doherty, who was unplayable on his day. He was built like a greyhound, very fast and elusive but with stamina, too. He had a Rolls-Royce engine in him.”
1. Sergio Aguero
Possibly the greatest player ever to pull on the City shirt, Sergio Aguero was signed by the club in 2011 smashing the Club record transfer fee. He announced his arrival with two goals from the bench against Swansea and has been breaking Club records ever since.
Sergio Aguero wrote his name into City folklore with his title-winning goal in the 94th minute against QPR, on the final day of his debut season. He is the highest South American scorer in the history of the Premier League and reached 100 goals in the division faster than any player other than Alan Shearer.
He overall scored 260 goals in 390 matches for the club, a staggering record. Aguero is the club’s highest goalscorer and Man City unveiled a statue of him outside the Etihad Stadium, nothing more than what he deserves.