Manchester City Football Club is one of the most successful football clubs in England over the past decade. Under manager Pep Guardiola, City have won 4 Premier League titles in 5 seasons between 2017-2022. But how long did it actually take for City to win their first Premier League title?
City’s First Premier League Title
Manchester City had to wait a long time before finally winning their first ever Premier League title. After the creation of the Premier League in 1992, City went on a title drought lasting 44 years before finally being crowned champions.
City came close to winning the league on several occasions during the 90s and 2000s, but always fell short. It was seen as a cruel twist of fate that their fierce local rivals Manchester United dominated English football, winning 13 Premier League titles between 1993-2013.
Things finally changed in the 2011-12 season, when City assembled a star-studded squad under manager Roberto Mancini. They engaged in an intense title race with United that went down to the final day of the season. In one of the most dramatic endings ever, City clinched their first Premier League title in 44 years on goal difference ahead of United.
So in summary, it took Manchester City a total of 44 years from the start of the Premier League era to finally win their first ever Premier League title.
Years in Various Divisions
To fully understand Manchester City’s long journey to Premier League glory, it is helpful to break down the number of years they spent in each division:
- Division 1/Premier League: 45 seasons (1977–1978, 1984–1987, 1989–1992, 2000–present)
- Division 2/Championship: 19 seasons (1978–1984, 1987–1989, 1998–2000)
- Division 3: 5 seasons (1993-1995, 1998)
- Division 4: 2 seasons (1995-1996)
After being promoted to the top flight in 1977, City spent 9 of the next 15 years in lower divisions as they bounced between the First and Second Divisions. This instability made it difficult to mount a sustained title challenge.
Their lowest ebb came in 1998 when they suffered the indignity of two successive relegations into Division Two and Division Three. However, they quickly rebounded and returned to the Premier League in 2000.
City spent the 2000s becoming an established Premier League team, eventually attracting big-money investment from their Abu Dhabi owners in 2008. This transformed the club into a major force, leading to their first ever Premier League title in 2012.
Champions League Failures
A notable aspect of Manchester City’s ascent has been their struggles to win the UEFA Champions League. Despite becoming the dominant force in English football and spending huge sums on transfers, European glory has eluded City:
- No Champions League final appearances
- Best finish is runners-up (2020-21)
- 4 quarter-final exits
- 3 round of 16 exits
City’s struggles in Europe highlight how difficult it is to win the Champions League, even for resource-rich clubs. Their 44 year wait for a league title shows that sustained success takes time to build, even with substantial financial backing.
League Finishes 1997-2012
Here is a breakdown of Manchester City’s league finishes in the Premier League era leading up to their first Premier League title in 2011-12:
| Season | Finish |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 5th |
| 1998-99 | 2nd Division |
| 1999-00 | 2nd Division |
| 2000-01 | 18th |
| 2001-02 | 9th |
| 2002-03 | 9th |
| 2003-04 | 16th |
| 2004-05 | 8th |
| 2005-06 | 15th |
| 2006-07 | 14th |
| 2007-08 | 9th |
| 2008-09 | 10th |
| 2009-10 | 5th |
| 2010-11 | 3rd |
| 2011-12 | 1st – Premier League Champions |
This table shows City’s inability to mount a sustained title challenge prior to their 2011-12 triumph. They only managed to finish in the top four twice in 15 seasons. Fifth place in 2009-10 offered the first signs of a potential title challenge.
3rd place in 2010-11 represented major progress under Mancini. He then guided City to the historic title the following season after 44 long years of waiting.
Spending Power
A major reason for Manchester City’s ascendancy in English football is their substantial spending power. They have consistently had one of the highest net spend figures on transfers in the Premier League:
- 2008-17: £1.3 billion net spend – 2nd in Premier League behind Manchester United
- 2017-18: £233m net spend – highest in Premier League
- 2018-19: £113m net spend – 2nd highest behind Liverpool
- 2019-20: £119m net spend – 2nd highest behind Chelsea
This demonstrates how City have been able to invest huge sums into building star-studded squads under managers like Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.
Their total net spend over the last decade is greater than Premier League rivals like Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. Having the resources to sign the best talent like Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling is a major factor in City’s success.
Managerial Stability
The appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager in 2016 has brought unprecedented stability and success to Manchester City. Guardiola has already spent more time at City than any other manager:
- Pep Guardiola (2016-present) – 7 seasons and counting
- Roberto Mancini (2009-13) – 4 seasons
- Joe Mercer (1965-71) – 6 seasons
The constant chopping and changing of managers at City was a contributing factor to their long title drought. Managerial instability made it impossible to build a successful dynasty.
Guardiola brought a clear playing philosophy and long-term planning to City. Given he has already delivered 4 Premier League crowns, the foundations have been laid for an era of dominance like Manchester United enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Squad Strength & Depth
Manchester City have assembled one of the strongest and deepest squads in Europe under Pep Guardiola. Their embarrassment of riches gives them outstanding cover in every position:
| Position | Options |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ederson, Ortega |
| Defence | Dias, Stones, Ake, Laporte, Cancelo, Walker |
| Midfield | De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo, Phillips |
| Attack | Haaland, Foden, Grealish, Mahrez, Alvarez |
No other club boasts this level of quality options in every single position. Even their bench options like Grealish and Alvarez would walk into most Premier League starting XIs.
This squad depth allows Guardiola to tailor his tactics to beat any opponent and cope with injuries or suspensions to key players over a gruelling season.
Tactical Flexibility
Pep Guardiola’s tactical acumen is a major asset for Manchester City. Some key innovations he has pioneered:
- Made City an effective pressing team without the ball
- Developed inverted full back roles to allow overloads in midfield
- Able to shift between 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and other systems
- Total football approach with fluid positioning of players
Guardiola has shown he can set up his team to deal with any opponent or scenario. At both Barcelona and Bayern Munich he demonstrated his ability to out-think and out-manoeuvre other managers.
His detailed match preparation and ability to change the game with substitutions if needed makes City a formidable tactical force.
Unity & Common Goal
Manchester City’s prolonged success demonstrates they have built a strong team unity and singularity of purpose. Guardiola’s has forged a tight-knit squad of players all focused on the same goal:
- Egos are kept in check for the greater good of the team
- Players willing to compete for their places and support squad rotation
- New signings are integrated into the winning culture
- Constant drive to keep improving and retain the title
There is a sense of collective responsibility among the City players to maintain the high standards they have set. The squad harmony is a key intangible factor that sustains long periods of success.
Strength of the Premier League
Given the competitive nature of the Premier League, Manchester City’s achievements are all the more remarkable:
- More resources make the league highly competitive compared to other top European leagues
- Burnley can beat Man City, so consistency is hard. City won 18 PL games in a row in 2017-18.
- Liverpool won the title in 2019-20 on 99 points, with City 17 points behind in 2nd place
- Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool have all won Premier League titles
For City to dominate such a competitive league filled with world-class opponents shows howspecial their team is. No other club has retained the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2008-09.
City have played some breathtaking football at times, reaching new standards the Premier League has never witnessed before. Other European heavyweights would also struggle in such a cut-throat domestic league.
Conclusion
After 44 long years, Manchester City have established themselves as the dominant force in English football. Their Premier League title success was built on heavy investment, managerial brilliance, squad depth, innovation and unity of purpose.
Neutral football fans may bemoan the way money shaped City’s success. But denying their quality would be churlish. The sheer consistency they have achieved in such a relentless league is exceptional.
Love them or loath them, Manchester City’s Premier League era will be remembered as one of remarkable achievement against the odds to dethrone rivals like Manchester United and build an era of sustained dominance.
