City may have entered 2010 having not won the top-flight title since 1968 and without a major trophy since 1976.
However, with the benefit of 2020 hindsight, it’s clear to see that all the ingredients were firmly in place for success following the 2008 takeover of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
And what has followed in the ensuing decade between 2010 and the end of 2019 stands as an unqualified success story of the very highest order.
A glorious rollcall of four Premier League titles, four League Cup triumphs and two FA Cup victories bears testament to the sheer scale of City achievements.
Of course, other teams have enjoyed triumphs too in that time-span – not least the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester who have all lifted the league trophy on at least one occasion.
But for sheer consistency and sustained excellence, City’s achievements stand apart.
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By whatever metric one chooses to measure true success by, be it the number of trophies, points accrued, goals scored or wins registered, City’s record eclipses that of all our rivals.
What’s more, that level of silverware has been achieved thanks to an attack-minded commitment to a brand of beautiful football rarely seen before on the domestic stage and one that has garnered global praise and admiration.
It has been orchestrated by a phalanx of outstanding players with the likes of Sergio Aguero – the decade’s leading goal scorer on 173 – David Silva – who has created most assists, 89 -, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany to name but a few joining the pantheon of true Premier League greats.
The figures alone are remarkable.
City boast the most league wins in the decade (250 to date), most points (815), the most goals (841), best goal difference (plus 502) and there are still two games left before we welcome 2020.
To mark the end of the decade - and to celebrate a period of sustained success unsurpassed in City’s 125-year history - over the next week or so we will be delving deeper to reflect on those 10 unforgettable years.
But first, it’s worth reminding ourselves of just how City have consistently raised the bar in English football.
Having ended our 35-year wait for silverware in unforgettable fashion with our 2011 FA Cup triumph over Stoke, the Club has never looked back since.
That first FA Cup win came under the stewardship of Roberto Mancini who was also at the helm as City secured our first Premier League title in the most dramatic circumstances possible in May 2012 via that unforgettable 93:20 climax against Queen’s Park Rangers.
His successor Manuel Pellegrini built on those solid foundations, overseeing further additions to the City trophy cabinet by leading the Club to a second Premier League success in 2014 as well as guiding us to League Cup glory in both 2014 and 2016.
And in the wake of the arrival of Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2016, City’s appetite for success has only accelerated.
The Catalan oversaw another iconic title triumph in 2018 with City becoming the first side in English football to break the 100 point barrier, as well as claiming yet another League Cup triumph.
And that was followed by our historic 2018/19 Fourmidables campaign, which saw us re-write the English record books once more by becoming the first side to life the title, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield in one season.
Indeed, such has been our remarkable consistency under Guardiola’s leadership over the past few seasons that of the past six major domestic trophies on offer - Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup - we have claimed five of them, only missing out on winning the 2018 FA Cup.
Of course, it’s not just our men’s team who have blazed a trail of success this past decade.
Since their professional launch in 2014, City’s women’s team have also become a respected by-word for success.
Under the leadership of manager Nick Cushing, City’s Women have accumulated a plethora of silverware, and forged a squad that’s has provided the backbone not just of our domestic success but also who have also been key cornerstones in the huge strides made by England’s Lionesses.
One FA Women’s Super League title, two FA Cup successes and three Continental Cup victories illustrate the impact made by City’s Women.
So, while in football the accent is always trained on looking forward rather than back, the end of a tumultuous decade which has utterly transformed Manchester City seems like an opportune time to reflect and celebrate our shared success story.
Keep an eye trained on mancity.com over the rest of the festive period as we celebrate our very own Perfect Ten…
