Since 2008, in particular, Manchester City have been one of the best clubs in the world to coincide with their big-money takeover. Credit where credit is due, however, they’ve spent the money well, finding and creating worldwide stars and serial silverware winners. Under Pep Guardiola, The Citizens have become a global force, attracting the biggest players.
Prior to 2008, even some City fans may admit, moving to Manchester as a player hopefully meant moving to Manchester United, who had unprecedented fame in England at the time. Wearing the famous sky blue of Man City, to put it bluntly, wasn’t actually all that famous. Not least compared to nowadays.
Nowadays, the impact that playing for Man City has on a player is significant when it comes to a rise in fame and popularity. Players are at the top of world football when playing for City – a club capable of competing on all fronts.
So, we at Football FanCast have decided to compile a list of the 10 most famous Manchester City players in history.
10 Joe Hart
If you know what Head & Shoulders is, then you’ll know who Joe Hart is. But, of course, his fame stretches past that of television adverts. The former Man City shot-stopper was one of the best in the Premier League at his best, as he helped the Manchester club to two league titles, and also became a regular for England, playing at multiple World Cups.
His fall from grace has been stark, however, as he has since played for the likes of Torino, West Ham United, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur, before ending up at Celtic.
He's still going, but when he was at his peak, he was a brilliant goalkeeper.
9 Ederson
Ederson is one of those players that will be a lot more famous for what he did during his playing days once he hangs his boots up.
Right now, yes, he is appreciated as one of the best in his position. But, the fact is, we are witnessing quite possibly the best ball-playing goalkeeper in Premier League history, with undoubtedly the best passing range, and he has already reached over 250 appearances for the club. His trophy cabinet is already absolutely heaving, too.
Ederson has won four Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, the FA Cup, and is also a runner-up in the Champions League.
8 Mike Summerbee
In terms of longevity and general ability, Mike Summerbee is one of the best to pull on the sky blue of Man City. The forward’s name may not be as echoed around the world as other players, but his fame as one of the best to do it in English football remains to this day, as he played for City between 1965 and 1975.
Still revered as a legend at the club, he helped them win the First Division, along with the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Those were the glory days before the new glory days.
7 Vincent Kompany
Manchester City’s very own captain fantastic, Vincent Kompany’s popularity has kept on rising since his retirement, in which he has followed the management path. Now in charge at Burnley, set for his first season, the Belgium could pick up where he left off as a player in England and continue his success.
Who could forget his strike against Leicester City during his playing days? In total, Kompany won the Premier League title no fewer than four times.
He will go down in history as one of the best signings in Premier League history; City paid £6m to bring Kompany into the club and he went on to play 360 times for the club.
6 Colin Bell
Colin Bell’s legacy is arguably larger than any other player in Manchester City’s history.
The legendary player’s name deserves to be known around the world, he was that good. Recency bias occasionally sees his name left behind, but with a statue cementing his legacy outside of The Etihad, people can really start to appreciate Bell’s time in English football.
Indeed, he was a part of the 1960 glory days, in which City won the Second Division in 1965/66, and won the First Division two seasons later. Bell also won the FA Cup and two League Cups, along with the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Like Summerbee, he was a driving force in winning plenty of trophies before City were awash with cash.
5 Carlos Tevez
One of few players to play for both Manchester United and Manchester City, and have great success with both, Carlos Tevez was a joy to watch at his best.
Ask most football fans if they know the name, too, and the majority of the time it will be a resounding yes. Tevez played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, from both Manchester clubs, to Boca Juniors, and Juventus. At City, he scored 73 goals and laid on 35 assists in 148 appearances.
He also won the Premier League at the Etihad, having already won it at Old Trafford; what a signing, what a player.
4 Yaya Toure
If Yaya Toure received the credit that he deserved for being one of the best, and most all-round midfielders that we’ve had the pleasure of seeing in the Premier League, then he’d be a lot higher on this list. He could do it all, whether that was powerfully driving with the ball, picking out a perfect pass, dancing around players, or firing a thunderbolt towards goal.
One of the greatest players we've seen, and he's now coaching at Tottenham Hotspur. It remains to be seen if he will move into management, but he's got so much to teach younger players.
3 David Silva
If a player could define the term ‘elegant’ then it would be David Silva. His fame as a Premier League great exceeds that of many in recent history. It may take some time for City to find a player of Silva’s calibre again, he was that special when playing for the club.
He regularly captained the club and won four Premier League titles, while also being a part of Spain's iconic run in which they won two European Championships in a row, and the World Cup.
He's undoubtedly got one of the biggest trophy cabinets in City history.
2 Kevin de Bruyne
By the time Kevin de Bruyne retires, he will likely go down as the best Premier League midfielder of all time. He seems like one of those players, too, that will always be involved in football, and, therefore, see his fame extend further and further as the years go by outside of football.
Still going, the Belgium international has 227 goal involvements in 334 appearances; these are staggering numbers. Considering people raised their eyebrows when City paid £55m to bring him in from Wolfsburg, it's fair to say that the club have had the last laugh.
1 Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero could have retired after sealing the title in the last minute of the 2012 season, and still, for one, have the most iconic moment that the Premier League is ever likely to see, and, two, remain the most famous player in Manchester City history. It’s the type of impact a moment like that has on a player.
And he did not waste that popularity, going on to further cement his Premier League legacy. He also scored plenty more goals, ending his City career with 260 goals in 390 appearances.
His forced retirement now remains a sad story, but he shined so brightly during his time at City.
Manchester City’s history of success may not be as extensive as Liverpool’s or Manchester United’s, as harsh as it sounds, but, the Citizens are responsible for producing some of the most famous players in English football history, and, in turn, the most memorable moment in Premier League history.
Something tells us that Erling Haaland will have something to say about this list, too, with the Norwegian already one of the most famous players in world football, before he’s even touched a Premier League ball. After his first season in England’s top flight, we might be looking at the most popular striker in world football.