Edin joined City in January 2011 and went on to play 189 times for the Blues during his four-and-a-half year stay.
He scored a number of crucial goals for the Club with his late equaliser away to Notts County in the FA Cup setting Roberto Mancini’s side up for a cup run that would eventually end with a 1-0 win over Stoke, ending the Blues’ 35-year wait for a trophy.
He managed six goals in his first half-season with City, but his contribution to the 2011/12 Premier League campaign was huge, with 19 goals in 42 appearances – none more important than his injury time equaliser against QPR that set up that most dramatic of climaxes that saw the Blues snatch the title in the dying seconds.
Earlier that season he scored one of the best hat-tricks in the Blues’ modern history with a four-goal salvo away to Spurs perhaps his greatest performance in a City shirt.
He also scored twice in added time during the 6-1 mauling of Manchester United at Old Trafford as well as claiming an assist – all in the space of 20 minutes!
There was no silverware in 2012/13, but Edin still managed to bag an impressive 15 goals from 32 appearances and was also on target with a well-taken goal away to Real Madrid as City seemed set for a famous win in the Bernabeu.
It was the 2013/14 season when the Bosnian shone brighter than ever. With Sergio Aguero injured for much of the campaign, Dzeko was a regular starter for the Blues and the vital goals he scored during the intense run-in with Liverpool helped edge the title City’s way.
It was Edin’s early goal away to Crystal Palace that paved the way to a crucial 2-0 win and his brace at Everton that secured a 3-2 win to pile the pressure on Brendan Rodgers’ side.
And when the Merseysiders buckled, it was Dzeko again who struck to break the deadlock against Aston Villa who had stubbornly defended for more than an hour at a rain-soaked Etihad Stadium. City went on to win 4-0 before wrapping up the title on the final day against West Ham.
The 2014/15 campaign was interrupted with injury and reduced his opportunities to just 19 starts in all competitions, scoring six goals – the last of which was away to Liverpool in March.
His goal in the 4-2 friendly defeat to Stuttgart was to be his last for the Club, with his record of 72 goals from just 117 starts comparable with any top striker in European football.
A firm favourite with the City fans and backed by an adoring nation of Bosnians, ‘The Diamond’ shone brightly during his time with the Blues and will be fondly remembered for having a pivotal role in City’s glorious past five years.
Everybody at the Club wishes Edin the very best for the future and thank him for his excellent service with Manchester City.
