Greatest Manchester City XI Ever
CDM – Yaya Toure
Manchester City signed Yaya Toure from Barcelona in 2010 and he was once again reunited with older brother Kolo who had signed from Arsenal the previous season. In his first year of English football, Yaya won the FA Cup, scoring the only goal in the final to lift City’s first major piece of silverware in 34 years. The club also secured Champions League qualification for the first time in modern football history.
A brilliant second season for Yaya included scoring 20 goals in 35 Premier League games – in his new attacking midfielder role – and a part in a historic last-minute title victory which would later be described as the most thrilling final moment in Premier League history.
During his time at City, Yaya has won the African Footballer of the Year award four times, Premier League twice, League Cup twice and twice won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award, voted for by the public. He has also been voted into the PFA Team of the Year twice.
CM – Colin Bell
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Manchester City’s players ever, Bell oozed quality and gave his all for his team –earning his nickname ‘Nijinsky’, in homage to the famous Derby-winning horse. He was the engine in the midfield during Manchester City’s greatest years as they won all domestic and European honours.
Bell is often regarded as one of England’s best attacking midfielders and was voted Manchester City’s all-time cult hero by BBC Football Focus. Under manager Malcolm Allison, City won the League Championship in 1968, winning the League on the last day of the season (a 4-3 victory against Newcastle United). It was a remarkable feat and just two years after climbing out of the second division.
In a 13-year spell, he made almost 500 appearances and scored 152 goals. He didn’t need words to show who was the best, he let his feet do the talking. However, Colin Bell’s career never reached the top of his game, only to have his career ended by injury far too early.
CM – David Silva
The Spanish Magician made his move to Manchester City in 2010 and spent the next ten seasons with the club. David Silva was one of the most consistent performers of Manchester City in the recent past and it has earned him a place among the greats.
A reserved figure off the field, he has inserted his personality onto the pitch, and within a team setting. He is arguably the Premier League’s greatest foreign import and City’s greatest player of all time.
Among bigger names and even bigger personalities, Silva offered understated qualities, which can be somewhat obscure to the untrained eye. Silva was the silent director behind this blockbuster production.
Bell, the man known simply as ‘The King’, has had his say on the matter: “Actually, David Silva is the greatest player to have represented the club.”