City A to Z: T is for...?

Time for T...

A plethora of options for T as we hit the home straight on our alphabetical countdown - here’s our selection of legends past and broadcasting firsts for your delectation.

Carlos Tevez

Subject of that Welcome to Manchester poster, Carlos Tevez swapped United red for City blue in 2009 and instantly became a hero with his new club.

Signing from the cross-town rivals helped of course, but his tireless energy and eye for goal were crucial during his four years at City. In his first full season at the club he scooped the Etihad Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year gongs after a magnificent campaign in which he spearheaded the attack, scoring 29 times in 42 games.

The second fastest player in City history to clock up 50 goals for the club, he captained the Blues in the 2011 FA Cup final as Roberto Mancini’s men ended a 35 year wait for a trophy.

A key member of the squad that lifted the title for the first time in 44 years the following term, his contribution and influence will forever be remembered by fans around the globe.

Sometimes dragging the rest of his side to victory in his first two terms at the club, his signature was further proof of City’s ambitions and he was joined 12 months later by the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva as the club assembled a squad that would soon be crowned the best in the country.

Bert Trautmann

One of the best goalkeepers City have ever had, Bert Trautmann overcame resentment from a British public with bitter memories of World War II to become one of the club’s most popular players to pull on the shirt.

A German paratrooper during the war, Bert was captured in Normandy and then made a prisoner-of-war. From the POW camp in Ashton-in-Makerfield, he tried his hand at goalkeeping, and he later claimed his military training helped him to cushion the ball as he fell – certainly a unique way to transfer skills.

Remaining in England after the war, City soon snapped up his services to replace the retiring legend Frank Swift, and although endured abuse at away matches he was quick to win over City fans who valued his talent and application.

Although Trautmann turned out 545 times for the club, he is undoubtedly most associated with the 1956 FA Cup final, in which he continued playing after breaking his neck to help City lift the trophy at a packed Wembley Stadium.

Admitting later to playing the last 15 minutes in a “fog”, the keeper refused to go off the pitch and made a series of crucial saves to preserve the lead – the FA were yet to be persuaded of the desirability of substitutes.

A hero of the game, tributes poured in from around the world on his death in 2013 and former City keeper Joe Corrigan declared him “one of the greatest keepers of all time”.

Television

The very first televised game from Maine Road was on 15 December 1956, when City lost 3–2 to Wolves in front of just over 30,000 fans.

The result was symptomatic of the years ahead when for a long time the Blues seemed to freeze in front of the cameras, especially live broadcasts.

City also had the honour of being selected as Sky’s first ever live Monday night game in 1992, now a regular staple of the English football diet.

A Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, the game finished 1-1 and remains memorable for those who witnessed it for Tony Coton’s decision to ignore the new back-pass rule by illegally picking up the first back pass that came his way.

Fortunately, the referee appeared happy to turn a blind eye…

Michael Tarnat

A four time German Champion, Michael Tarnat spent only 12 months in Manchester but left a lasting impression on the City support.

Purchased from Bayern Munich as a left back, Tarnat made sure to pack his shooting boots – scoring three in a single season and inspiring cries of “shoooot” from the stands whenever he received the ball over the halfway line.

The most iconic of his trio of strikes came at Ewood Park, when he unleashed a rocket of a free kick from a full 30 yards that left Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel completely helpless, despite getting a hand to the shot.

One of only a handful of Germans to pull on the City shirt, he moved back to his homeland with Hannover in 2004 and following retirement returned to Bayern Munich as a talent scout.

Dennis Tueart

Signed by Ron Saunders in 1974 for a then record fee, Dennis Tueart soon settled into life in the North West to become a fan favourite long before the 1976 League Cup final.

If he was popular going into the final against his former club’s rivals Newcastle, he became all but immortal to the fans after his spectacular overhead kick won the game 2–1.

It was later voted the greatest ever goal in the history of the competition and ensured the versatile forward’s place in football folklore.

Ambitious and keen to broaden his horizons, he left for New York Cosmos in 1978 and again became a hero to the vast crowds that crammed into the Meadowlands Stadium in the Big Apple. A Tueart goal would be welcomed by an electronic board message of ‘Sweet Feet’ or ‘Do it, Tueart!’

Playing alongside some of the world’s best players and living a life of luxury, complete with Cadillac, Dennis enjoyed almost two years in the USA before he rejoined City for £150,000 and came back to his adopted home of Manchester for good.

Over his two spells at Maine Road, he scored 112 goals in 276 appearances before departing for Stoke following relegation in 1983.

It’s the turn of the letter U tomorrow - any bright ideas? Tweet us your suggestions @MCFC.

City A-Z: So far

A is for Aguero, Argentina and Ardwick

B is for Balotelli, Ballet on Ice and Berkovic

C is for Corrigan, Cricket and Curle

D is for Doyle, Dowd and Dzeko

E for Elano, Elvis the Eagle and Eriksson

F is for Flitcroft, Floodlights and Foe

G is for Goater, Gibson, Golden Goal

H is for Hart, Horlock and Huddersfield

I for Immel, Iheanacho and Ireland