Manchester City win the Champions League for the first time in their history

Posted : 11 June 2023

For the first time in their history, Manchester Citywon the Champions League. For years now, the Blues, certainly in the Pep Guardiola era, have been favourites to lift the title, but each time fail to do so just before the end.

Their highest European achievement until the current title: runners-up in the 2020/21 season after losing the final to Chelsea. That's it, now they can finally celebrate – and more in such a wonderful season (treble, you know, we'll get to it).

It may not be widely known, but this recent victory marks the second European trophy added to Manchester City's collection. The first triumph occurred in 1970 when City defeated Górnik Zabrze 1-2 in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, witnessed by 7,968 spectators in Vienna.

Let's acknowledge Pep Guardiola, who now joins the esteemed company of Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley with three Champions Cup/Champions League wins. Notably, Guardiola accomplished this feat with two different teams: Barcelona (in 2009 and 2011) and Manchester City (in 2023). Carlo Ancelotti holds the record with four victories. Furthermore, Pep can proudly claim to be the only manager in history to have secured a treble with two different teams: Barcelona and Manchester City.

Argentina's Julián Álvarez earns a commendable spot on the list as the fifth player to win both the World Cup and the Champions League in the same season. Those who achieved this before him include Christian Crambo (1998), Roberto Carlos (2002), Sami Khedira (2014), and Raphael Varane (2018).

Manchester City now becomes the sixth English team ever to clinch the Champions Cup/Champions League. Liverpool leads the way with six victories, followed by Manchester United with three, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest with two each, and Aston Villa with one. Additionally, no country, apart from England, has produced more than three different European champions.

It has been 24 years since the last treble by an English team, which until now was a solitary feat achieved by Manchester United in 1999, winning the English Championship, FA Cup, and Champions League. The 2023 Manchester City squad has replicated this accomplishment, some would argue even more impressively.

Prior to the final, City had already set a record by becoming the only English team to enjoy a run of 26 consecutive home games without defeat. In fact, their last European loss at the Etihad Stadium dates back to 2018 when they were defeated 2-1 by Lyon.

Let's not forget Erling Haaland, who became the fastest player to reach 35 goals in the Champions League, accomplishing this feat in just 27 games during the semi-finals. Moreover, he became the youngest player (at 22 years and 272 days) to score 35 or more goals in the Champions League.

With an impressive record of 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions, Erling Haaland solidified his position as the top striker in the five major European leagues this season. He also claimed the title of top scorer in the 2022/23 Champions League season with 12 goals in 10 matches. Adding to his tally are 36 Premier League goals, three in the FA Cup, and one in the League Cup.

Guardiola joins an elite group as the third manager to reach 100 or more victories in the Champions League. The recent triumph against Inter Milan marked his 101st win. The other two managers on this list are Carlo Ancelotti (107 wins) and Sir Alex Ferguson (102 wins).

Manchester City win the Champions League for the first time in their history

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