City Magazine: January edition out now! | OneFootball

Welcome to the January edition of the City Magazine - a goal-machine special!

We kick off our first edition of 2026 with a centurions cover celebrating Erling Haaland's milestone of 100 Premier League goals in record time. and Bunny Shaw's historic ton, too. Our Norwegian superstar talks to City Magazine about his life in Manchester, leadership on and off the pitch and his hopes and dreams for his nation - and expectations for his club. Meanwhile, Bunny Shaw became the first City Women player to score 100 goals in all competitions.

Our Jamaican hot-shot speaks about her achievements in sky blue, plus the goals she's looking to reach in the coming months and years.And we have a third headliner in Savinho, who shares a glimpse of his rural upbringing in Brazil and how his love of horses first began. Lily Murphy is also featured, talking about her progress so far and her ambitions for the new year.

You'll also find Emmanuel Adebayor, Patrick Roberts, Dietmar Hamann and David Bowie in the pages that follow.So, all the above and, as always plenty more to keep you entertained over the holiday period and beyond. Enjoy, and have a wonderful 2026!

Erling talks to CITY MAGAZINE about captaincy, life in Manchester and the World Cup…

atching Erling Haaland evolve from a goal-scoring phenomenon to a genuine leader and one of our captains, has been an enjoyable journey.

To call him City’s talisman almost doesn’t do him justice, such is his influence on the pitch.

This season, he’s been at his devastating best in front of goal for club and country, setting new standards, reaching milestone after milestone and breaking records in record time.

He’s the greatest No.9 in our history and, alongside Sergio Aguero, in the top two of best forwards we’ve ever had and, if and when he surpasses Aguero’s goal tally, he will be regarded as Manchester City’s greatest striker of all time.

Away from the pitch, he has great humility and is clearly loved and respected by all at the club.

“Pep Guardiola made Erling one of our captains this season, and the Norwegian takes great pride in wearing the armband of the team he supported as a boy.”

Pep Guardiola made Erling one of our captains this season, and the Norwegian takes great pride in wearing the armband of the team he supported as a boy.

He acts and carries himself like a captain and best of all, he is a wonderfully polite, respectful young man – not bad for somebody who is one of the most famous footballers on the planet.

Erling meets me on the monthly player appearance window we have at the Club and having done all his other activations, he wanders over to where I am sat on the indoor pitch with a wry smile on his face.

“Hey, you all right?” he says as he sits down on the chair opposite. “You've been looking a bit mystical today. I'm actually quite interested and looking forward to what you’re going to say.”

I greet him in Norwegian, and he smiles again. I explain my son Harry’s ambition is to live in Norway and that he has been learning the language.

“Oh, it's an incredible country…” says Erling .

And it is.

I start by asking whether, given his birth city is Leeds, Erling feels English in any way?

“Yeah,” he says. “And  when I signed for City, I said I feel a bit home. I remember I said that. So, yeah, I feel I feel a bit at home now I’m living in UK and everything. And it was quite natural as well to move back here because my family had a great time in England.

“ I feel a bit at home now I’m living in UK and everything. And it was quite natural as well to move back here because my family had a great time here.”

“My mum loves England. She loves the traditions and all of these things. My parents had a great time here before I was born and when I was born, and I'm having a great time now.”

So, the obvious question – and one no Norwegian will want to hear – is whether playing for England was ever an option for Erling?

“There was never a conversation about it because I was in Norway and it was not possible to get the passport then,” he says. “I can get the passport now. I'd love to get the English passport, you know? Why not? But no, in the end, it was never a discussion.”

Unlucky for England. Lucky for Norway, but while there’s definitely a hint of a Mancunian accent in his twang these days, and yes he is technically English by birth, Erling is as Norwegian as a fjord and has enormous pride in his nation – even though his young son is another English-born Haaland!

“Even when we went to games and all of that, I always liked England, because I feel like we are a bit the same - Norwegians and English people.”

The chatter about nationality leads on to the affinity between English people and Norwegians.

Norway is a nation that is crazy about the Premier League, though it goes back much further than that, with – as an example – City having a Norwegian supporters branch as far back as the 1970s.

And speaking from experience, go in any Norwegian sports bar over any weekend and you’ll see supporters of Premier League clubs watching multiple games on huge screens everywhere.

I ask Erling why is there such a connection between our nations?

“I think it's because it's close as well,” Erling says. “It's not a neighbour country, but it’s only got the North Sea in-between. So it's always been really close - for example, Newcastle to my hometown, I think it's 45-minute flight, which is as close as it is to Oslo.

“And to Manchester, to my hometown, it's an hour or so, you know? So I think it's a bit of that. And also, I think it's the Premier League as well, because of how competitive it's always been. I think it comes from that as well.”

Reverting back to that hint of Mancunian twang, it’s refreshing to see how much at home Erling genuinely seems to be in Manchester.

His bond with the City fans is off the charts – they love him, and he is very much adored. But is there more to it?

“You know, I’d been to Manchester a couple of times before I signed for City,” he smiles.

“Even when we went to games, I always liked England, because, as I say, I feel like we are a bit the same - Norwegians and English people - so I always liked it, and I always enjoyed being here a lot.

“And I don't know, it’s just the vibe. I feel really calm and it's difficult to explain why I like it. I feel it's very similar to Norway in many ways.”

One thing you notice when you see Erling Haaland is how relaxed and comfortable he looks. We’ve seen the ice baths, the food he likes, and we know about the meditation, but a smile is never far from his lips, so what’s the secret?

“I think I think it's important to stay balanced in your life when it comes to everything,” he says. “And also to acknowledge how good we really have it, because there are many people who are struggling with things.

“And then it's important to acknowledge that and to realise that we live really good, too. I have a family. My mother and father are alive and count your blessings – that sort of thing. Yeah, you know, and my son is healthy, so that's the most important thing. And then live well from that because there's a lot of problems in this world, so that's important to acknowledge that we're living a good life and are enjoying what we can enjoy.

“As for meditation, in the end, it's about having freedom in your mind. I think in this world, there's so many stressful things and everything in the end is about understanding how to really relax your mind and body.

“And it's difficult. because we have a lot of stuff we need to do and get on with and lots of people have a lot of stress in their life. It's important to kind of get the stress out of your way and relax because I think, in the end, we all need to relax a bit more in our minds, you know?”

And that captain’s armband, which he’s worn for City several times and even more so for Norway, has shown no signs of weighing Erling down in any way. Far from it. He has positively grown even taller in stature with the added responsibility.

Has that – plus becoming a father  - helped when it comes to being a leader?

“I think maybe. I think it is both, because I'm getting older, I'm getting more experienced and everything,” he said. “And I’ve committed to City for a long time, so it becomes a lot of pressure on your shoulders – but I like the pressure because I like it when people expect a lot for me, because they should.

“And when you expect a lot for me, I demand and expect a lot of things from others as well. It goes both ways and it’s also my job to take the club back to where we belong. Whether I’m the captain or a second, third, fourth, fifth captain. It doesn't really matter, but I'm a captain in my own way, and I want to lead and help the club in this way to help us developing, not only as a team, of course, but also as a football club.”

And our No.9 is, of course, also going to the World Cup.

It would have been a travesty if the best striker in world football was not at the biggest show on Earth, but that scenario now won’t be happening because Erling ‘s contribution ensured his nation will compete in a World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

And that pressure and expectation he spoke of at club level? Imagine feeling the hopes of a nation on your shoulders?

He, of course, delivered (and then some), scoring 16 goals in Norway’s perfect qualifying campaign, scoring almost half of the 37 goals they amassed.

“I think everyone expected it,” he says. “Let's say  it this way. If I was a Norwegian football fan, living in Norway, and Erling Haaland plays for the Norwegian national team. I expect him to take us to the World Cup. Yeah. Simple as that.

“So I've been working towards it for a long time now, and finally, we managed to do it, which was incredible, and hopefully it's the start of something - something special because we've got a great generation now, we've got a lot of young players still, and we are building something together, which can be amazing.”

And, it likely will be amazing, because this Manchester City superstar doesn’t do anything by half…

Interview: David Clayton

Can Mozzer get the better of City YouTuber Esteemed Kompany?

Here’s January’s predictions as the battle of the our former captain and the City vloggers continues…

SUNDERLAND v CITY

Premier LeagueThursday 01 January, 20:00 kick-offStadium of Light

Mozzer verdict: Everyone is waiting for the Sunderland bubble to burst – but I’m not sure it will. They were decent at our place, but we were just better on the day, and I think we’ll be better here again, especially as so many of their players will be on duty at AFCON.

Mozzer prediction: Sunderland 1-3 City

Vlogger verdict: Sunderland have been mightily impressive this season, built on the experience of Granit Xhaka in particular. However, I'm expecting a similar result as the home game with City picking up momentum and consistency now.

Vlogger prediction: Sunderland 1-3 City

CITY v CHELSEA

Premier LeagueSunday 04 January, 17:30 kick-offEtihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: I think we’ll power into 2026, and this will be another statement win. I expect plenty of goals because both teams only want to attack. Enzo Maresca is building a good side and Cole Palmer is bound to get on the scoresheet, but I think we’ll edge an entertaining game.

Mozzer prediction: City 4-2 Chelsea

Vlogger verdict: There's an undeniable narrative underpinning this game given the former City connections - Maresca, Delap, Palmer, Adarabioyo, Lavia, Gittens etc. It gives what will already be a big game a unique edge. City will have too much for Chelsea, though.

Vlogger prediction: City 2-0 Chelsea

CITY v BRIGHTON

Premier LeagueWednesday 07 January, 19:30 kick-offEtihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: This is another tricky game against another strong opponent. Brighton beat us 2-1 earlier in the season but were fortunate to do so. I think we’ll avenge that loss here in a game I expect to go one way then another. City to shade a five-goal thriller.

Mozzer prediction: City 3-2 Brighton

Vlogger verdict: Brighton have had a relatively quiet season so far, despite dropping points to them early on in the season, and I'm expecting that to continue. City should have too much quality and I've got a feeling Haaland will bag a hat-trick in an entertaining end to end game.

Vlogger prediction: City 3-2 Brighton

CITY v EXETER CITY

FA Cup Third RoundSaturday 10 January, 15:00 kick-offEtihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: Our first ever meeting with Exeter, and I don’t see it ending well for the Devon side. I’ve no doubt Pep will field a young side along with players who don’t usually get an opportunity, but I still us winning this easily.

Mozzer prediction: City 6-0 Exeter

Vlogger verdict: A much-changed City side should still be too good for Exeter. Mukasa, Gray, the Heskeys and others will look to shine for Pep, and they likely will. A convincing and enjoyable win.

Vlogger prediction: City 4-0 Exeter

NEWCASTLE v CITY

Carabao CupDate and kick-off time to be confirmed.St James' Park

Mozzer verdict: Obviously, much will depend on team selection. We will need something close to our strongest XI to get a result here. With a second leg to come at the Etihad, we just need to make sure we don't do anything silly at St James' Park - but I don't think we will and instead will just shade this.

Mozzer prediction: Newcastle 1-2 City

Vlogger verdict: An incredibly tough tie against a side who recently tasted success in this competition. They'll have a thirst for it and have already proven they can beat City. That said I expect City to have learned lessons and take a draw.

Vlogger prediction: Newcastle 2-2 City

MAN UNITED v CITY

Premier LeagueSaturday 17 January, 12:30 kick-offOld Trafford

Mozzer verdict: Which Manchester United side will turn up for this game? That’s the question. But if they defend as openly as they did against Bournemouth when they drew 4-4, we could have a field day here. They have been improving and are capable of causing problems with their attack, but if we are anywhere near our best, we win – simple as that.

Mozzer prediction: United 1-2 City

Vlogger verdict: This could go either way. United are not great these days but they do have an uncanny ability to give City problems regardless. Still, my head does feel a City win is the most likely scenario.

Vlogger prediction: United 1-2 City

BODØ / GLIMT v CITY

Champions LeagueTuesday 20 January, 17:45 kick-offAspmyra Stadion

Mozzer verdict: It’s not a bad time to face Bodø because the Norwegian season has ended, so I doubt they will be at their sharpest. It’s a small ground, a plastic pitch and they are a good side, so all that has to be factored in – plus it will be freezing! But I see us being professional and getting the job done.

Mozzer prediction: Bodø / Glimt 1-3 City

Vlogger verdict: The middle of winter in Norway on a plastic pitch... yeah this is going to be tough. I'm an optimistic person, but my gut is telling me that the conditions might prove a leveller and City could slip up a little here.

Vlogger prediction: Bodø / Glimt 2-2 City

CITY v WOLVES

Premier LeagueSaturday 24 January, 15:00 kick-offEtihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: Wolves, at the time of writing, look as though they are heading for certain relegation, which is a shame because they are great club with great fans. We set the tone for their season by beating them 4-0 on the opening day and while I think they will play better than they did that day, I only see a City victory.

Mozzer prediction: City 3-1 Wolves

Vlogger verdict: Wolves have had a torrid time so far this season and if we drop points against Bodo this could be an incredibly difficult day for the Black Country club. City will come out firing and it could be a big win.

Vlogger prediction: City 5-1 Wolves

CITY v GALATASARAY

Champions LeagueWednesday 28 January, 20:00 kick-offEtihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: I’m assuming we are home and hosed by this stage and have guaranteed a top eight finish in the league phase. If that’s the case, then we’ll end a busy month with a fairly comfortable victory against the Turkish side with a number of changes made by Pep.

Mozzer prediction: City 2-0 Galatasaray

Vlogger verdict: The return of Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan! An emotional reunion, but a successful one anyway. City will win to secure a top eight spot and qualify for the knockout stages

Vlogger prediction: City 2-0 Galatasaray

Last month: This is the contest that just keeps giving with our 2-1 win at Forest changing everything. Typical City called that score correctly to win December by a score of 7-6. . Andy did get six results right but Typical City's five included that bonus correct score to keep the vloggers narrowly ahead.

Season scoreboard so far: Mozzer 25-27 Vloggers

Here, Savinho talks to City Magazine about his childhood, fatherhood and life on the family farm...

t’s hard to believe Savinho is only 21 years old. Already a veteran of six clubs, in four different countries with approaching 160 appearances and 13 caps for Brazil, he has already seen a lot of life for one so young.

At his exhilarating best, Savinho is a phenomenal talent, able to glide past defenders with ridiculous ease and his many assists prove how much he can contribute to this City team.

It’s also fair to say he was unfortunate to spend his first season in Manchester as part of a Pep Guardiola side that struggled for form as one era ended and another one began.

But he has plenty of time to win the silverware he dreams of, having just penned an extension to his contract that will last until 2030.

All the glitter and glamour is, of course, a long way from those lazy, hot days on the family farm in Sao Mateus, a municipality on the east coast of Brazil.

“Life at the farm is amazing,” smiles Savinho.

“During my childhood it was an amazing place to be, not only in my childhood but also to this day, I’m always there when I’ve got time off. I’ve got my horses, my family and we do a lot of barbecues, and we also go to the bull’s rodeos.

“I have great childhood memories. I was telling Matheus (Nunes) on a return trip from Europe, that I’d like him to come over and spend a day or so there. I’ll convince him to do it!”

The farm has been in Savinho’s family for many years.

And when the time came, it was their football playing grandson who took on the business, ensuring the ranch stayed a family concern.

“Yes, before it belonged to my grandparents, but I always looked after it,” he said.

“I used to do unpaid work there and dedicated a lot of my time because I loved it and I’d do it with pleasure. Nowadays [it belongs to me and I have my] horses which makes me very proud and happy, as this was a childhood dream of mine, to have many horses.”

In typical Brazilian fashion, it was also on the dusty, dry ground on the farm that Savinho learned to play and practice football.

It wasn’t long before the light-built youngster was using his natural skills to dazzle friends and family with his outstanding ability.

"Every day around, 4pm-5pm, after the sunset, we had an improvised football pitch with two pillars, so my friends and cousins would come over a play football,” he recalled.

“I was very young but would play with people who were 15, 16 or even as old as 20 and everyone used to say I had a special gift.

“I speak a lot with my wife about it, I was also speaking to Matheus on our way back from Monaco, we were talking about it, about our childhood, that it goes so fast, and we miss it a lot. I miss everything.”

Ask Savinho who his boyhood idol was and there is only one answer.

And it was the same Brazilian idol that the youngster pretended to be in the knockabouts with his friends...

“My first idol? It was Neymar,” he smiled.

“It started when he was at his very peak when he was at Barcelona, I didn’t use to follow him much when he was with Santos, but as I was growing up I used to watch him a lot during his time at Barcelona, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and as he’s Brazilian.

“I used to love watching him and I remember thinking I wish I was him playing, but we all have our own talent, but I’m happy that he’s an inspiration.

“My first football jersey – I think - was a Flamengo shirt that my family gave to me.”

Though his commitment to City means a return to farm life and his beloved horses is not imminent, Savinho knows he will return there to live after his career has ended.

He adores playing football and wants to have great successes with City, but after he’s hung up his boots, he’ll be back tending and riding his horses again.

“I always tell my family that when I retire, I’ll go back and live there, but of course we are very far away from making that decision,” he said. “A lot can happen in between, of course, and I can obviously change my mind, but if I was to stop today I’d easily go and live in the farm with my family and my grandparents. I spend my holidays there and it’s just a dream.”

Interview: David Clayton

On Sunday 14 December 2025, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw made Manchester City history...

he Jamaican became the first women’s player in our professional era to reach 100 goals, confidently converting our opening goal in a 6-1 win over Aston Villa.

She reached the incredible milestone in just 120 matches and even went on to score another three at the Joie Stadium that day – her tenth hat-trick in sky blue.

The records keep on tumbling for our centre-forward… City’s all-time top scorer, the most hat-tricks in WSL history, the only player to win the WSL Golden Boot while at City… the list goes on.

In short, City are reaping the benefits of one of world football’s deadliest attacking talents, operating at the peak of her irrepressible powers.

Or is she? Could Shaw’s scoring exploits hit even headier heights?

It’s a scary thought for opposition defenders to ponder heading into the new year, but a question posed by City legend Steph Houghton, Shaw’s former captain.

“I think there’s still so much more that Bunny can bring,” our record appearance holder explains.

“I think the sky’s the limit for Bunny, she’s already one of the best in the world but I think she could be the best if she really wants to be.”

Steph Houghton

“Of course, she’s got goals, but I’ve always tried to push her to be even better with the ball to create more problems for defenders.

“I think the sky’s the limit for Bunny, she’s already one of the best in the world but I think she could be the best if she really wants to be.”

But it’s not been plain sailing for the Jamaican to get to that status as one of the best in the world.

With 19 goals and a League Cup winners’ medal, her first season at the Club was ultimately a success but it wasn’t without its challenges, namely fitting into a new and intricate system.

Shaw admits her first few months had her questioning if she’d made the right move from French side Bordeaux in the summer of 2021, but the advice of fellow City stars Lucy Bronze and Raheem Sterling proved the catalyst for her upturn in fortune.

She begins: “The first five or six months were very difficult. When you come into a system that’s very detailed and structured and have to be in certain places at certain times, I found it very difficult.

“I called Raheem [Sterling] and said, ‘I am struggling’. I used to cry because I just couldn’t get it right. He gave me the experience of when he came here from Liverpool, it was difficult for him as well and he gave me a few pointers.

“Then I was walking back [in from training] one day and Lucy [Bronze] ran up to me and asked if everything was okay.

“I said, ‘I don’t think the system suits me, and I don’t know where to go’. She said ‘I played against you in France, just play your game. Yes, it’s a system but when you get the ball, do your thing.

“Of course, I follow instructions but in certain moments I’ll also do what got me here.”

“January hit and I was like ‘I have nothing to lose, this is my first year,’ and I started feeling a lot better and that moment on I felt the difference.

“Of course, I follow instructions but in certain moments I’ll also do what got me here.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

Shaw hasn’t forgotten those early struggles, though, and uses them as motivation to continually break new ground at City and in the WSL.

She pauses to consider her answer when asked for the biggest lesson she’s learned while at City but eventually settles on: “I think ultimately for me, believing in myself more.

“In my first year, I was trying to play a way that I wasn’t comfortable with. I was trying to play to impress. Of course, you have to listen to what’s being said, but in certain positions, I should’ve expressed myself. I’d definitely say that’s been the learning.

“Ultimately, it’s like believing in yourself but also trusting your instincts. Sometimes you might see a pass or should take a shot and you think ‘I don’t want the coach to yell at me' and if they miss, oh well.

“But if you just shoot and know you’re going to score, then do it.”

Footballers often talk about ‘mentality’ and the importance it has both on and off the pitch, with psychology also a hugely respected field within the game.

The one percent extra could be the difference at the elite level that Shaw and her City team-mates operate, and the Jamaican also spoke in a recent interview about the benefits she’s felt since seeing a psychologist.

Even the world’s best attackers, like Shaw, miss a chance every now and then, but the Jamaican emphasises the importance of forgetting that frustration and focusing on making the next action count.

Her first goal in a 3-0 win over Leicester in December – goal 98 of her City career – was a case in point.

After missing a couple of early chances at the King Power Stadium, it looked like Shaw might have to wait another week to add to her goal tally for 2025/26, with the hosts defending resolutely.

But a miskick from Celeste Boureille presented the Jamaican with a sudden, and unexpected, sight of goal which she duly dispatched in ruthless fashion.

She recalls that game, and goal in impressive detail…

“You could tell they’d practiced crossing, because as soon as the ball went wide, they’d all run past me and get back to defend.

“We’d put a lot of crosses in first half so when you put that amount in, something is eventually going to give.

“It was unexpected because I was watching the flight of the ball, but I think it just popped up to me, so I tried to react.

“I always try to think in the back of my mind, what if? What if they don’t get there? Still commit, and in that instance the defender missed it, so I just turned and had a go.”

Shaw’s faith that another chance would come, and that she’d be ready to convert it, demonstrates that elite mentality.

And our record scorer reveals a little more into her mindset when she discusses what she feels the best lesson is that she’s received since joining City.

“I would probably say focus on what you can control, because when you focus on that, everything else plays out how it’s supposed to,” Shaw adds.

“That means when I’m on the pitch, I may miss a chance, okay focus on the next one, I can control the next action, when it comes, do the best I can to make sure I finish.

“Or in life, if there’s a lot going on, what do I need to focus on? What can I control in everything, in the chaos that’s happening?

“I find when I focus on that, with everything else, if it’s supposed to fade away, it fades away or if it was supposed to come around another way it will do.

“But for me that’s always been my mentality and it’s something that helps with my psychologist as well.

“It’s always about focusing on what you can control.”

The Jamaican has, once again, made history, and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Leading the way in the WSL scoring charts, another record could well be on the horizon as she pursues an unprecedented third successive Golden Boot.

You’d imagine Shaw and her City team-mates, however, will have their sights set on different kinds of honours heading into 2026…

Interview: George Kelsey

This season we’re working round the calendar to bring you a session I’ve taken on a specific month of the year.

Today we celebrate the new year with a session I shot in January 1997.

y editor called me into his office. “Kevin, would you like to go to David Bowie’s 50th birthday party?”

Would I??? What a dream. I grew up idolising Bowie. I’d photographed him several times, but to get an invite to his birthday…

I was quickly brought back to earth. Bowie was playing Madison Square Garden in Manhattan for his 50th birthday and I was going to shoot it for the NME, then do a portrait session the following morning for a cover feature.

The gig was great of course, then I vaguely remember being invited to some party, but leaving early so I could be on my game for the portraits.

I turned up at Tea and Sympathy, this little British style café in the Village. Apparently, Bowie used to go there often for his fix of Earl Grey. It wasn’t open and the lights were off, but in the January gloom I could see a figure huddled in the corner with a mug of tea.  I introduced myself and suggested we go outside to do the photos.

“Can’t we just do them here?” he groaned.

I said we needed a modicum of light to take a photograph – especially for a front cover, so reluctantly he came outside with his union flag emblazoned mug, and a cigarette on (as ever), and I worked as quickly as possible to take a good range of images.

Bowie was probably one of the most famous people in the world, yet in those pre-digital camera phone days, nobody approached him and I was able to work without any interruption.

How times have changed.

It’s a lovely session and one I’m really proud of. Bowie loved them too, which is a great accolade from someone photographed as often as he was.

My Bowie book: Mixing Memory and Desire, is published by Octopus and is available wherever books are sold. It contains a great mix of in-concert shots and portraits and is a fine addition to your bookshelves, even if I do say so myself!

Kevin Cummins

Football and data have become a familiar pairing of words in recent years.  

On the pitch, data often defines a coach’s decision on how to approach a game tactically. 

But for Data Analytics Manager Ming Zhao, his world of numbers doesn’t impact City’s work on the pitch; it instead plays a key role in the type of content the Club produces to best suit our amazing fanbase around the world. 

Ming was our final staff member to take to the Technical Area in 2025, and kindly detailed his job to for this edition of the City Magazine… 

CITY MAG: Ming, thanks for your time. First of all, your job sounds on paper quite niche, how did you come to be in your role at City?

MING: I’ve been working in football for over 10 years. I’ve previously been a marketing manager at other clubs, and I also have experience as a reporter for various outlets. So why a Data Manager at City? That’s because I really like the potential and the vision of this Club. I believe that I bring my expertise and skills from my previous work and now help contribute to the growth and development of our media content.

CITY MAG: What does your day-to-day look like?

MING: On paper, it is the typical nine-to-five job. And I definitely spend a lot of time in front of my laptop. But I also make the effort to catch up with various members of the media team to discuss strategies, key campaigns and priorities for each week. I encourage my team to talk to peers, attend events and speak to experts across other sports and the entertainment industry to learn the latest technologies and bring that value back to the team. And like I mentioned earlier, just talking to various teams within the media department so we can help with producing high-quality content that best suits our fans' needs.

CITY MAG: Where does your interest in data come from?

MING: Well, surprisingly, it’s not all about digital analytics, which makes my title a little confusing. I work in the content department because my job is to look after our data insights across all our digital platforms. And we look at different types of content we publish from social media posts to video content, news articles and photographs. My job is to tell compelling data stories and then advise the media department on what content works for us, and also new avenues we can explore. And that’s what I really like about my job, people might imagine I bury myself in spreadsheets, but actually I speak to lots of different people, different teams, and I try to understand their needs but also the challenges they face. And then I also spend time each week consuming our content, reading articles, watching videos, trying to understand the perspective from our fans. It’s never about just data; it’s about the story we want to tell the fans and how we do it.

CITY MAG: And what are you looking for when it comes to the data? 

MING: Great question. We look at our data from a variety of different perspectives. One area we look at is quantitative, which means we look at our fan growth, the size of the audience, engagement, and viewing figures. But we also look at our quality data to check the sentiment of the fans who enjoy our content. We use it to understand how our content meets our fans’ needs and also how it can attract potential new fans. And then on a strategic level, it’s about helping City Studios to grow and help Manchester City become the leading brand, not just in football but within the entertainment industry as a whole.

Unlike many other leading European clubs or other industry leaders, we really want to understand if we meet fan expectations. This means is the service and products we provide right for them? If we can provide services and products that fans want, then we are doing our jobs right. Nowadays, football is not just about football; it’s part of a wider entertainment industry, and we are trying to make City one of the leading brands in the world. What I really like about working for City is the mindset here, and people always try to do things differently; we’re an innovative department. We aren’t afraid to try new things and, for me, that’s what makes City stand out.

CITY MAG: When you look at our data, what does stand out? And is there any data in particular that sets City apart from others?

MING: I think it’s a signature metric called unique active users, which we use as our key benchmarking metric. Typically, the media or various industries use social media followers to estimate the fan size, the fanbase of the Club. But what we believe it doesn’t reveal the full picture. Social media has changed so much, evolved so quickly over the past 10/20 years with new technology, new algorithms and new audience behaviours. So for us, it’s about who really engages and consumes our content.

And yes, in terms of what sets us apart, before I joined City, I didn’t realise how big a content department the Club has. And from that, we are constantly the most-matched Premier League club. That means our video content has the highest viewing figures in the English top-flight, and that’s been the case for the past few seasons. And I think that’s an achievement everyone in the media team can be proud of.

CITY MAG: From your data, what content do our fans enjoy?

MING: We’ve kind of touched on it a little already. It’s not one size fits all because of modern technology, fans are much more diverse. But one of the reasons I like working here is that we have thought about that, and we have different strategies to reach different demographics. For example, our Matchday Live show, Matchday Centre, and match report all cater to our older fanbase who enjoy more ‘traditional’ content. And then at the other end of the spectrum, we cater to Gen Alpha through City Labs, where we develop products in the digital world. So we don’t use just one strategy, we constantly work on different types of content so all our fans can enjoy what we produce.

CITY MAG: Finally, do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in following a similar career path to you?

MING: My advice would be to combine your best skills with what you enjoy. Passion and knowledge together are really powerful.

Interview: Holly Percival

Minutes 14 and 15

 Continuing our countdown of City goals scored in particular minutes – this month, we go for minute 14 and 15…

14 December 2013Sergio Aguero’s prolific December continues with a stunning volley to give City the lead against Arsenal in what will be a nine-goal thriller.

Samir Nasri’s corner is glanced towards the far post by defender Martin Demichelis and waiting to finish from close range is Aguero, who spectacularly volleys home with the outside of his right boot.

19 April 2016This goal is all about the delivery, with Aleks Kolarov providing a precise, whipped-in cross for Sergio Aguero to leap and guide a header into the net for a superb goal against Newcastle United.

It puts City 1-0 up at St James’ Park, though the Magpies will equalise later in the half to earn a 1-1 draw.

11 May 1985City double their lead against Charlton Athletic and Paul Simpson is once again the provider.

The young left-winger sends a cross into the six-yard box where Andy May leaps to meet it and sends a looping header into the top left-hand corner of the net in a must-win game for the promotion-chasing Blues.

17 February 2013Another penalty dispatched by Sergio Aguero as City go 2-0 up in quick-time against Championship side Leeds United in the FA Cup.

It is Aguero himself who is fouled in the box and the Argentine delivers maximum punishment from the spot with a customary cool finish to give the Blues a foot in the sixth round with only a quarter of an hour played.

29 January 2014Sergio Aguero’s seventh goal in 14 days comes as David Silva spots his run into the Spurs box, plays a simple pass into his path and, as Hugo Lloris comes out to the corner of the six-yard box, Aguero casually slips a delightful angled shot into the opposite corner.

A classy finish from a striker at the top of his game. It is also the opening goal of a stunning 5-1 win at White Hart Lane for the Blues.

24 February 2016A static Dynamo Kyiv defence is punished as City take an early lead in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie in Ukraine.

Yaya Toure heads down a cross to Sergio Aguero who has time to tee up a shot, before firing past the home keeper to set the Blues on their way to a priceless 3-1 victory.

10 September 2016Kevin De Bruyne takes a gamble as a long ball is played into the Manchester United half – and it pays off as Kelechi Iheanacho gets a glancing header on the ball to set the Belgian through on goal.

De Bruyne races towards the United box before giving David De Gea ‘the eyes’ - looking at one corner and firing it in the opposite side to put City 1-0 up at Old Trafford.

GLYN PARDOEONE MAN-ONE CLUB

TESTIMONIAL PROGRAMME MARCH  1977

On one side of the cultural divide the UK was on fire. It was the Sex Pistols who had lit the fuse and many of us teenagers were enjoying the bangers going off left right and centre. In the sporting world though we were witnessing the end of an era.

In this episode of Get With The Programme we’re heading off into new waters. I’m still rifling my way through a match-day Man City publication but on this occasion, I’ve chosen a Testimonial Tribute.

It wasn’t so very long ago I was talking to a fellow Blue about how the age of the testimonial match seemed to be over. In the ‘old days’, as we know, footballers used to earn maybe three or four times the national average wage and were considered to be well-off for doing so. Inevitably when early ‘retirement’ would come the player concerned would have a nice house and a nice car… and a journey into the unknown. To alleviate the terror of unemployment, testimonial matches were a regular ‘thing’. With what would hopefully be a healthy turnout and a heroes send-off said chap would fill a suitcase with cash from the turnstiles and (to be cliched about it for a moment) disappear into the sunset… or at least Oldham, with a view to buying… a pub.

Todays players have no such fears. As we know they are paid a King’s Ransom due to the fact that they are idolized global superstars. Some of them at least. So, the testimonial seemed to be a thing of the past. Unless the money generated could be filtered through to those in need. Enter the great Niall Quinn, who, in 2002, was famously the first top flight professional footballer to hand all his testimonial earnings over to charity.

All one million pounds of it.

Heroic indeed.

So back to 1977 we go.

GLYN PARDOE… ONE MAN, ONE CLUB.

This edition is both a celebration and a sad reminder of the end of Glyn’s playing career.  He joined City in 1961 and a year later and stayed with the club right through to retirement in 1976. In the April of ‘62 Glyn, aged 15, was the youngest footballer to play in the First Division for eleven years.

As debuts go that’s impressive.

As you can imagine, this programme is full of Glyn stories, tributes from fellow players and club officials, adverts for various local businesses, some of which have direct links to City players.

Such as this…

and this…

and this…

As some of you will be aware, Mike ran an ultra-trendy clothes business with local ‘rival’ George Best. But did you know his ensuing bespoke shirt making business supplied topflight clobber to the likes of Sylvester Stallone and the man who changed my life…DAVID BOWIE!? When I told my wife Trace that DB regularly wore one of Buzzers shirts she thought I meant a replica shirt with the number 7 on its back. Oh, how we laughed. Anyway… way more glamorous than Franny’s Loo Roll business you’d have to agree!

Staying with Bowie (as I all too often do) here’s an at least slightly interesting fact. I hope. The next time you ‘fly’ down the M56 past the Airport Hotel (The Post House Hotel as was) try letting your imagination run riot. It’s nothing to look at I admit, but back in the day it was used by some of the great and the good due to its close proximity to…yes you guessed… Manchester International Airport.

I know The Osmond Brothers stayed there in 1973… and some four years later, if you were lucky enough to be in the adjoining room, you might just have got to hear the sounds of David Bowie and Marc Bolan rehearsing for the Granada made TV show ‘Marc’ being filmed later that day.

And to think… there’s no Blue Héritage plaque. Harrummmph!

Page 3 of this magazine features glowing tributes from then Chairman Peter Swales and also Testimonial Committee Chairman Bill Adams who has more the look of an American game-show host than a football big wig. Great hair!

We need to head back now into the world of Glyn Pardoe. One of the City greats and of course a capped international for England! And if there was any danger of you forgetting this fact in the March of 1977 Glyn and his family, we’re only too happy to remind you.

Once again, a Man City programme features a photograph of a distressed Glyn receiving attention on the pitch following a robust challenge. And once again I’ll refuse to use it. There’s no joy to be had from that. But something that might well bring about a smile is the photo and article covering his recovery in hospital.

The column, perhaps surprisingly, starts with allegations of some footballers being investigated by the Inland Revenue for irregularities surrounding the cash earnt via testimonial matches! Not the most sympathetic of introductions to a piece largely about the time George Best came to visit Glyn whilst laid up in hospital following their collision some seven years earlier in a local derby.

Before I go, I’d like to present to you just a few more photos with some thoughts.

Have you ever seen a photograph of Glyn Pardoe, Malcolm Allison and Colin Bell in a ginormous dog bowl? Well, I have….

And now so have you.

If it’s a photograph of two legends in the same boat (or cast) together...then how about this.

…which I’ve decided to make the subject of this month’s caption competition (see below)

Moving on… if anyone needs reminding of the importance of Mr. Pardoe in our illustrious history… cop for this…

And now my parting shot. The back cover of the programme.

The score? City 4-2 Man United.

If you’d like to enter our Caption Competition, please submit your entry to [email protected]. If you’re the lucky winner, you’ll be hearing from us!

CAPTION COMPETITION.

or some players, scoring week in week out is just their job. For others, the chance to be the centre of attention just once is something to be savoured.

While scoring goals is regarded as the hardest part of the game and is what truly makes the difference, you can’t have a team full of goalscorers.

Just as important to the success of any team are the hard workers behind the front line that make it all happen.

Whether that’s the runners, organisers or creators, there are plenty of players who will get plaudits aplenty from their manager without ever tasting the limelight in public.

In this feature, we look at those who netted just once in their City careers, whether short or long.

And if you’re only going to score once, you may as well do so in an unfamiliar land of the giants far away from the day-to-day hustle of the Premier League.

A prime example of the career-long unsung hero was Dietmar Hamann, who spent three seasons in Manchester towards the end of a distinguished career that had already taken in Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

A rangy defensive midfielder whose long legs helped him cover ground and get tackles in where others couldn’t, Hamann moved to City in 2006 with 14 major honours under his belt.

The 32-year-old immediately endeared himself to the City faithful by signing a pre-agreement with Bolton Wanderers before having a change of heart and instead picking City.

While the Blues were not the same club we see today, there was still intense pride amongst our supporters that was only strengthened by Hamann’s comments upon signing on the dotted line.

He said: "When I became aware of press reports suggesting that City were interested in me, I was excited at the prospect of joining this club and knew this is where I want to be. I am happy that the situation has been sorted quickly."

19 appearances followed in his first campaign in east Manchester as well as some scepticism that the German’s best days were behind him.

The arrival of Sven Goran-Eriksson in the summer of 2007 was a turning point for Hamann’s City career, just as it was for the club as a whole.

With a lot of fresh faces arriving, there was the need for a calm, steady head who understood the Premier League inside out.

Hamann was that man, playing 34 times at the base of midfield as the likes of Elano and Stephen Ireland rushed on ahead of him.

He was never quick, but Bob Paisley’s old adage “the first two yards are in your head” could have been written about Hamann himself.

City finished ninth that season in a much improved campaign that revitalised everyone concerned.

The Blues also earned UEFA Cup qualification through the ‘Fair Play’ system, which is where Hamann would finally get his first goal for City early in the next season.

Qualification began in July, with City heading to the Faroe Islands to face EB Streymur.

Hamann, a man who had performed on the biggest stages football had to offer, was one of City’s band of glitzy internationals who would take on the part-timers in the tiny capital of Torshavn.

In a 6,000 seater stadium tucked away by the Scandinavian sea and surrounded by farmer’s fields, it was a world away from the bright lights of the Premier League.

Martin Petrov gave us the lead, but Hamann’s strike after 28 minutes – more than three years on from his last goal – was well worth the wait.

He stepped on to a Petrov corner to hammer a volley home and wheeled away with all the joy of a man who hadn’t found the net in 95 outings.

A long, long European campaign ended at the quarter-final stage with a dramatic and memorable two-legged tie with Hamburg.

Only 18 appearances followed that season as Mark Hughes bedded in future captain Vincent Kompany at the base of midfield.

Hamann was released in the summer of 2009 having played 71 times for City before agreeing a move to MK Dons and then into a brief coaching career and longer life as a television pundit.

During a time of great upheaval at City, Hamann’s calm and reassuring presence had been a comfort while that one goal will forever stay in the memory of the handful of City fans who grasped their opportunity to take in football on the Faroe Islands.

Feature: Jack Mumford

Continuing our series looking at former City players who later scored against the Blues, we recall a Champions League cup clash from eight years ago...

eltic were the first team to stop Pep Guardiola’s incredible winning start when he arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2016.

After winning our opening 10 matches under the Catalan, we headed north of the border to take on the Scottish champions.

It was an electric atmosphere at Parkhead and a pulsating game as the hosts twice took the lead in the first half but goals from Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Nolito saw us secure a 3-3 draw.

When we met again three months later it was a more sedate affair with City certain of finishing second in Group C while Celtic were guaranteed to finish bottom of a group that included Barcelona and Borussia Monchengladbach.

But for Patrick Roberts it was an opportunity to show City what he was all about after leaving us to move to Scotland on loan.

After joining from Fulham in the summer of 2015, he made three appearances for the Blues – two in League Cup victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace on our way to winning the trophy – and the other in the Premier League defeat at Tottenham.

In January he agreed an 18-month loan at Celtic to continue his development and, after helping them to the title, he remained for their European adventure.

City started the game at the Etihad scruffily and Roberts almost teed up Tom Rogic in the opening minutes.

And the winger scored a superb opener in the fifth minute, drifting inside from the left wing, escaping a challenge from Gael Clichy before firing low beyond Willy Caballero.

The lead lasted only three minutes, City striker Kelechi Iheanacho racing onto Nolito’s clever pass before firing into the top corner.

It looked like we could be on for a repeat of the six-goal thriller in Glasgow with Iheancho going close twice while Moussa Dembele wasted a huge chance for the visitors.

Nolito was denied a winner despite looking onside in the days before VAR, but it was to end 1-1.

Roberts was given warm hugs by many of his City team-mates at full-time with the possibility that he might return.

But despite joining up with pre-season tours with City, he didn’t feature again in a senior game for us, going out on loan to Girona, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Derby and Troyes before joining Sunderland.

Feature: Jonathan Smith

Moment in Time: Bert Trautmann Testimonial15 April 1964

A picture you may have never seen – Sir Bobby Charlton in a City shirt!

Let’s backtrack a little…

After Bert Trautmann called time on a wonderful 15-year career with Manchester City, the demand for a testimonial was immediate.

City fans wanted to say thank you to a man whose courage ensured we won the 1956 FA Cup final, but ,moreover, to show their respect for the former prisoner of war who fought against all odds to build a life in post-war Britain.

He didn’t just succeed, he won the hearts of a nation for his humility, bravery and brilliance.

The club organised a special game for Bert – a combined City and United XI versus an England XI. Players queued up to be involved… and City fans queued up at Maine Road for hours.

The official attendance was 47,951, but many estimate the 'unofficial ' gate was closer to 60,000.

This was a time City were in Division Two and gates were not what they once were as the Blues floundered under manager George Poyser – but our legion of fans were still there, even if many were voting with their feet in the league.

Bert was overwhelmed with the turnout, and for the record. Manchester won 5-4 with the great Sir Stanley Matthews making a cameo appearance.

At the end, Bert spoke to the City fans and called them  “the greatest people in the world.”

And the picture above? Denis Law, Bert and Sir Bobby – all in City shirts – shake hands after an unforgettable evening. A one-off moment in time for sure!

City 0-3 Nottingham ForestFA Cup third roundSaturday 3 January 2009

City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Elano, Fernandes (Hamann 60), Kompany, Wright-Phillips (Vassell 24), Caicedo (Jo 70), Sturridge. Subs not used: Schmeichel, Garrido, Clayton, Berti.

hen Pep Guardiola takes charge of Manchester City for our FA Cup clash with Exeter City this month, it will take him to within one tie of 50 games for the Blues in the famous old competition.

Unsurprisingly, no one has been more successful in the FA Cup with City than the Catalan, winning the trophy twice and reaching two more finals.

What is perhaps more fun is to look at statistically our least successful manager in the tournament and it will come as a surprise to most.

Since we first entered the tournament in the 1892/93 season, 35 managers have tried to lift the silverware with six being successful.

Of those, four have taken charge of just a single game in the FA Cup and lost at their only attempt.

Cutting that quartet down further, three lost by three-goal margins so Jimmy Frizzell escapes the ‘worst FA Cup boss’ tag as his defeat was a 1-0 loss at Manchester United in 1987.

Joshua Parlby oversaw a 3-0 defeat to West Manchester in 1893 and David Ashworth was in charge when we lost 4-1 to Preston North End in 1925, both away from home.

With the other three-goal defeat coming at the Etihad - and against lower league opposition - the crown has to unfortunately go to Mark Hughes, who was in charge for our 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in 2009.

It’s a quirk of the calendar that a manager who oversaw 77 matches, winning more than he lost, should have just one shot at the FA Cup.

And it’s also bad luck that it should go spectacularly wrong for a coach who famously took us on a glorious run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup and guided us to a place in the semi-finals of the League Cup before he was replaced.

Hopes were high a few days into the New Year with the visit of crisis club Forest, hovering above the Championship relegation zone and under the management of caretaker boss John Pemberton.

Added to that, we’d made our first signing of the January transfer window with Wayne Bridge unveiled to the Etihad crowd ahead of kick-off.

But that would prove be the best moment of the day with an early blow suffered when Shaun Wright-Phillips was struck down with a hamstring injury midway through the first half.

Worse was to come, with two goals in five minutes before the break for the jubilant visitors.

Micah Richards failed to deal with a long ball and was punished by Forest striker Nathan Tyson then Robert Earnshaw doubled their lead when he turned in Matt Thornhill’s misdirected shot.

Daniel Sturridge and Jo tried to pull us back into the tie but there would be one more goal at the other end courtesy of Joe Garner.

That tie would be the final appearances for three City players with Michael Ball, Darius Vassell and Dietmar Hamann never featuring again.

Hughes, meanwhile, remained with City for another 11-and-a-half months but did not make it to another FA Cup tie to try to improve his record.

But an illustrious managerial career is still going strong, and he guided non-league Carlisle to the FA Cup second round this season, including masterminding a stunning upset at Reading.

Feature: Jonathan Smith

EDS forward Emilio Lawrence is put to the test as he selects his Academy 5-a-side team.

Like always in this feature, our chosen player had to abide by the following rules when building his squad: he can only select one goalkeeper, one defender, two midfielders and one striker. And they can only be players he has played alongside during his time at City’s Academy.

Who did Emilio select?

GOALKEEPER: True Grant – Been team-mates with him for a few years. He always had good performances in goal and won a few trophies with him.

DEFENDER: Jahmai Simpson-Pusey x Max Alleyne - Jahmax is back! They are both different but also so similar. I feel like Jahmai would start spamming step overs and rainbow flicks. Then I think Max would be a bit more safer on the ball, he won’t lose it.

MIDFIELDER: Oscar Bobb – I think in a 5-a-side team he would rip everyone to pieces..

MIDFIELDER: Nico O’Reilly – look at what he’s doing now. We were in the same team for a few years together. Always been doing what he’s doing and now he is showing it in the Premier League and Champions League.

FORWARD: Divin Mubama – He’s doing well in the Championship. And he was great in the Under-21s so got to go with him.

Interview: Holly Percival

Emmanuel Adebayor

In 2010, City Magazine had a Q&A feature where fans sent in questions, and the player in focus answered them. We’ve selected Emmanuel Adebayor for this month’s archive feature – let’s see what out former Togolese striker had to say some 15 years ago…

What is your favourite moment so far as a Manchester City Player?

Ben Oldham, 18, Macclesfield

“I’d have to say our 2-1 win over Chelsea last season. I was involved in that game and I think it made people sit up and notice a bit – plus I scored an own goal – but Carlos scored again, which made me very happy!”

If you had to choose three people from the team to be on a deserted island with, who would they be and why?

K.L, 19, Australia

“One would be Kolo Toure because he’s someone who never gives up and believes he can always make things happen. Shaun Wright-Phillips because he’d make me laugh and I know that I’d have a good time with him as company, and Shay Given because he’s a really nice guy and I’d never get bored of his stories – plus he could catch the coconuts as they landed!”

You have played for Arsenal for many years and how is your experience in City with compared to Arsenal?

Jess, Aberdeen

“Good and bad – last season wasn’t my best season and there was so much stuff happened. I was suspended, injured, away with Togo after which I needed some time away from the game – it was very stop-start. This season I’m hoping to be available all season and see what I can achieve for this club.”

You’ve captained Togo, would you one day like to captain City, too?

Janet Lala

“I am a footballer and captaining your team is a big responsibility and one that I’m used to after wearing the armband for Togo for the past three years. If I ever lead City, then great – if not, I will help the team by contributing on the pitch and scoring goals – anything I can do to help the club win trophies. I’m not here to be captain tomorrow, I’m here to score goals and help us win games.”

Can you describe how it felt when you scored your first goal as a professional?

David Flatbacke, Örebro, Sweden

“I can’t describe it! It’s like the world is in your hands. I remember it very clearly, too – it was for Metz against Monaco and we drew 2-2 – I scored the equalising goal. I was so delighted because I’d played a few games without scoring and the coach was asking me when was I finally going to get a goal? I’ve kept the newspaper clippings and it is still a beautiful moment in my life.”

Is the history and tradition of a club such as Manchester City important to the players and do they understand the significance and importance of playing for a club steeped in history, especially during its glory era in the late 60s/70s?

“I don’t think that’s really that important. The reason is, I believe if you play your game and be a little selfish by concentrating on what you can achieve for the club now. Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez, Patrick Vieira, Kolo Toure – we all signed for this club to make our own history. It’s always good to come to a club and become a legend during your time there – that’s what we’re all striving to achieve – to leave a legacy. History is all about yesterday – what matters is the history you are going to create as a player. That’s the most important thing.”

Who does Manu want to emulate at City, a past legend/hero who brought great success to the club? Who when his time at City is up does Adebayor want to be compared to?

“Nobody – I’m not somebody who delves back into the history books to find out who did what and when. I want people to look at me for my own merits and for what I can and hopefully will achieve at the football club.”

Which one player would Manu like to play with before he retires?

 Ben, 18, Manchester

“My hero, Kanu Nwankwo – I’ve always loved him and I had a chance to play alongside him during a charity game and for me, if I had the chance to play alongside him professionally, it would be one of the most beautiful days in my life – maybe it’s too late to happen now – but I’m just thankful to have him as a friend, a brother and a mentor.”

After such a bad trauma in your life can you reflect and take a positive from what happened show the footballing world why you are one of the top strikers within football and why you were voted African Footballer of the Year 2008?

Kevin Cooper – Denton, Manchester

“We all have difficult moments in our life when we lose people we love and when it happens, it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you because you have seen death. When you have time to reflect, you count your blessings and thank god for looking out for those we love. I used to laugh and smile before the events in Togo, but now I enjoy life even more and appreciate everything I have even more. Today I laugh more than before because I have the chance to be alive and to play football. I live for today now, not tomorrow and things I used to put off until later. I’ve realised that God has given me a chance to live, so yes, I have taken positives out of the tragedy.”

Who is the most famous footballer’s shirt you have got?

Maxim Bukatin, Saratov, Russia

“I’ve got a lot of shirts but I’d have to say Kanu’s shirt is the one I treasure the most. I love that shirt and it is framed on the wall in my sitting room in Africa – it’s the first thing you see when you come through the front door, in fact!”

If AC Milan is Beyoncé what is Manchester City?

Craig Moss, Offerton

“Kelly Rowland! She is a beautiful woman and together with Beyoncé, they are two of the most beautiful women in the world so I’d say Kelly for sure.”

How has becoming a father changed your life?

Anthony Jones, Monton

“It was very stressful and there is now a huge responsibility, but I’m very happy and delighted to have become a father for the first time. Since Kendera Kelly arrived, I have realised that I now have to think twice about everything I do – I have to think for myself and my baby – we just want to make her happy, smile and look after her. It’s not easy, but I’m loving it.”

Your name contains the world eBay. Were you aware of this? What price do you reckon you'd fetch in an online auction?

Michael Leversha, Acton, London

“I don’t even want to know the answer to that!”

What was it like to watch the World Cup being hosted in Africa and not be able to play and compete?

John Clifford, USA

“It was a historic moment for all Africans because we have been waiting for this for a long time. Yes, I am sorry for myself, but God put his hand on our country in 2004 and 2005 and we qualified for the World Cup in 2006. We are not a country who will qualify for every World Cup, but once in a while, it will happen and we accept that. I’m very happy that, if it’s just once in our lifetime that Africa has hosted the tournament – and South Africa in particular because we all know of its history and Nelson Mandela. We just have to thank Sepp Blatter and those who helped make it happen and especially to the man, the legend that is Nelson Mandela.”

What is the main reason that pushed you to decide not to play for Togo again?

Maxime Kouvahé, Gabon

“I’ve been playing for my country for nine years now and I’ve captained the team for the past three or four years, too. There are a lot of organisational problems and whenever we’ve tried to do things in recent times, it’s been taken in a negative way. Because I’ve tried to explain things about the national team and tried to help my country, I’ve become the main focus when any problems arise and people point to me as the cause. Things have obviously changed in the last year – I’ve got a daughter now and I have to put here first now – I’m not going to put myself in situations where I am risking my safety, especially after what happened in Angola. If the organisation improved and things became much better, I will definitely play for Togo again. It’s been one of the tougher decisions I’ve had to make in my life, but at the end of the day, I have to think of my family first. I can choose to die for my country, but not in a cheap way and at the moment, that’s the way things are and I’m not prepared to accept that.”

If you wrote an autobiography, what would you call it?

“The Crazy Life of Adebayor.”

Do you ever go to a drive thru McDonalds – if so, what’s your favourite food?

Tom, Birmingham

“I’ve never eaten at McDonalds.”

If you could have a house anywhere in the world other than Togo and England, where would it be?

Lawrence Prior, Norwich

“Definitely Miami Beach and I mean right on the beach!”

What’s your favourite thing about living in England?

Laurie Fisher, Manchester

“The people are nice and they love their football and are passionate about the game. No matter what happens, that’s what attracts a lot of foreign players to this country. People live, breathe and die for football in England.”

After being a pundit for the BBC during the World Cup, do you see a career in the media as a possibility after you’ve finished playing?

Michael King, Leicester

“That’s something I’ve not even thought about. Right now, I’m playing and still a footballer and that’s all I’m thinking about. I want to keep playing, keep scoring goal and hopefully helping to make history at this club and enjoying myself as much as possible and at the end of my career I will have a lot of time to think about what my next move is.”

Is there one movie you enjoy more than others?

Katy Winton, Gillingham

“It’s not a movie but a TV series – 24 – I love Jack Bauer! Kiefer Sutherland is brilliant and I’m waiting for season nine already. If anyone can sort me a walk-on part in 24, I’d be a happy man! Previously on 24...”

Ade, thanks a million...

“No problem – I enjoyed it and would like to thank everyone who sent their questions in to me.”

Interview: David Clayton

Despite missing the first half of the season after picking up an injury against Chelsea, Lily Murphy has been enjoying life amongst the first team...

fter joining our academy in 2022, the 19-year-old has since patiently worked her way into the senior squad.

She’d already featured for the senior side in some behind-closed-doors friendlies and during our pre-season tour of Australia, but a senior debut soon followed in our 5-0 Champions League qualifying win over Paris FC.

In December 2024, Lily signed her first professional contract with Manchester City, and her first goal came shortly after in a 2-0 UEFA Champions League win over St Polten before the new year.

Murphy went on to make 22 appearances in all competitions across the campaign, predominantly from out wide, and also scored in a League Cup win over Manchester United in January 2025.

And she planned to build on that impressive first professional campaign and become a regular starter Andrée Jeglertz in the 2025/26 season, but it wouldn’t be the case as she had to be stretchered off in our first game of the season.

“It feels like it's gone really fast and I’m back out on the grass as well, so that's a huge positive for me,”

Thankfully, she is now back out on the grass building back to full fitness and assured City Magazine that her recovery so far has gone really well.

“It feels like it's gone really fast and I’m back out on the grass as well, so that's a huge positive for me,” she said.

“So yeah, hopefully back out on the pitch soon.”

It’s also the first long term injury she’s suffered from in her career, but instead of purely focusing on the negatives Murphy says she’s used it as a time to learn and reflect.

“I think I've learned just to be patient, trust the process and to work really hard on the little things in the gym as well,” she added.

“My main focus is obviously to get back out on the grass and I’ve done that so I’m really happy.”

Sadly, Lily hasn’t been alone in her recovery as Mayzee Davies has also spent time alongside her, but the young forward said having other young players around her has helped to spur her on when times have felt rough.

“I think it's really good because she relates to me. Each day we're always talking to each other, seeing how we're getting on. It's really nice to have someone there in the gym as well.”

Despite not being involved in the squad, Murphy also explained that she’s used the time to work on her development and aspects of her game she doesn’t normally have time for.

“[I’m] just working on the strength aspect as well, like I say in the gym, but then also being out on the grass just working one-on-one with the coaches has been really good for my development as well,” she said.

“I've been able to do that as well with the coaches when I was in the team training, but now it's just that one-on-one time, which is really nice.”

12 months on since her debut in the Champions League qualifying stage, there’s no doubt Lily has grown tremendously as a player and a person in that time and being around the first team set-up has really propelled that.

“I think I've grown up quite a lot. I think just being in the first team environment from the start it's really helped me as a person as well as a player.

“I think I've just had to grow up so much more and quicker on and off the pitch and just be myself on and off the pitch as well which has been nice.”

“I need to perfect that and work on that everyday so that I think they're my two main, big focuses at the moment as well.”

“[I’ve been working on] my final third bit like my crossing, my finishing and it's been really like crucial for the team,” she added.

“I need to perfect that and work on that everyday so that I think they're my two main, big focuses at the moment as well.”

And now looking forward, her priority is getting back out on the pitch and helping to contribute under the guidance of Jeglertz - who she was full of praise for following a fantastic start to the season with City

“He's a great manager and I think he's just there for us as well on and off the pitch,” she said.

“His door is always open and so the team just feels really encouraged by him. I think it's really nice to have him around.”

Finally, she also took the time to commend the squad on their performances so far this season as we end 2025 top of the table and as the Women’s Super League’s highest scorers.

“I'm really proud of the team we've worked so hard, like in analysis on the pitch. I've seen them working so hard, so yeah, they deserve it and just keep going from here.”

Interview: Alice Wright

Elite Development Squad lead coach Ben Wilkinson believes an eventful first half to the 2025/26 has left the City youngsters ideally equipped to kick on looking forward into 2026.

ilkinson’s young charges went into the Christmas festive break after what was an intense and demanding few months on the back of a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

In Premier League 2 our Under-21s – who are the defending champions – currently lie in 13th position, having won four, drawn one and lost four of our first nine games.

Meanwhile City are also through to the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League and have been drawn away to HJK Helsinki in the Round of 32 after rounding off our six-game league phase with outstanding victories against Bayer Leverkusen (6-0 home) and Real Madrid (4-0 away).

In the Premier League International Cup meanwhile, City have opened up with successive draws against PSV Eindhoven (2-2) and Real Madrid (1-1).

Wilkinson has also had the huge professional satisfaction of seeing a number of his talented young charges afforded first team City debuts by Pep Guardiola over the past few months.

The likes of Jaden and Reigan Heskey, Divine Mukasa and most latterly Charlie Gray have all made their senior bows this term with Stephen Mfuni being named on the bench on several occasions.

Small wonder then that the EDS lead coach said there were numerous reasons for optimism both in looking back on the season to date and focusing ahead to the second half of the campaign.

“I think it's been an unusual season compared to probably most of the other ones I've spent here in the Academy,” Ben reflected.

“I think we've gone for a little bit of a change in terms of the squad this year with a lot of new players.

"We are also changing certain things in our game model around the way we press and things like that which have taken some getting used to."

“We've also had a bigger squad, and also had quite significant changes in staff as well so there's been a lot of changes and new challenges both on and off the pitch.

“On the whole, I think certainly going into the Christmas break, we're starting to find some consistency with performances and results, which has been pleasing.

“But I think development wise, we've got a lot already from the season.

“The players are developing, the players are understanding what's required in terms of roles and responsibilities both for this team but more importantly what it's like to go up to the first team.

“So that's been something that I have been really pleased with in terms of how that looks.

“I think we'll be in a better position to sort of to answer [where we are] at the end of the season but I think we're heading in the right direction after a few turbulent moments.

“And the other side to that is that is the life of a footballer.

“If you look at most of our players’ journey in the Academy, they don't have too many ups and downs.

“So, it's sometimes good to see when they've maybe lost a couple of games or they're stressed a little bit to see how they react in those moments.

“So, I think it's been something that's been new to us all, a little bit in terms of the changes I've referenced, and I think it's probably taken us a little while to adapt.

“But if you look at the last few performances before the break - the PSV game in the Premier League International Cup we were excellent, even though we didn't win, then the Bayer Leverkusen game, both Real Madrid games and winning at Sunderland away where it was very difficult conditions and circumstances, were really good.

"So, putting all those performances together I do think there's been a big improvement over the last four or five weeks, so hopefully we can build on to that moving forward."

In terms of the UEFA Youth League specifically, Wilkinson said City were hugely excited by December’s Round of 32 draw which paired us with HJK Helsinki.

That one-off trip to the Finnish capital is pencilled in for early February with Wilkinson eager for City to build on what was a fine inaugural European campaign at the helm in 2024/25 which ultimately ended in a heartbreaking 1-0 quarter-final loss away to AZ Alkmaar.

“I'm really excited by the draw and its typical of this competition in that it gives you everything,” Ben added.

“If you compare playing Real Madrid to Helsinki, they are two completely different sets of challenges.

“We have good experience of it from last year in terms of going and playing on Astro Turf and playing away in really cold conditions and encountering a lot of things that we wouldn't usually find.

“You also know whichever side arrive at this stage in the competition is because they're a really good team.

“I think they beat Trabzonspor of Turkey in an earlier round who made it to the final last year.

“So that tells you all you need to know in terms of the level of opposition and what it will be like.

“I think that's the beauty of this competition - that the challenges are so varied.

“All of them are really, really tough and obviously it gives us another opportunity to see how our players adapt in different circumstances.”

Interview: Neil Leigh

It’s been a busy start to the 2025/26 campaign for Dante Headley.

he versatile defender, who is also capable of playing higher up the pitch, has been a key figure for Oliver Reiss’ Under-18s, who sit top of the league table as we enter the second half of the season.

In his six appearances in the league, Headley has assisted one goal and also got off the mark himself in our final game of 2025, which saw City beat Everton 2-1.

And that’s not the only competition we are seeing the quick, strong, technical full-back develop his craft in.

The 17-year-old also played every minute of our first FA Youth Cup game, helping us overcome Fulham with a 3-1 triumph at the Joie Stadium.

He’s also been gaining valuable European experience. Headley has played in four of our six UEFA Youth League games as we advanced to the knockouts of the prestigious competition.

Headley got his first taste of senior football in October, playing 79 minutes of our EFL Trophy defeat to Rotherham.

And after the final game of 2025, Headley reflected on the positive start to the new season as our Under-18s look to defend the North title.

“I think everyone is motivated to go into the new year, coming off the back of some really positive results,” began Headley.

“It’s a good feeling that the manager can trust me [to play in any position] in times that I’m needed.

“I want to try and get more goals and assists so I can help the team. I’m always getting battered about at the back post but [like against Everton] it pays off.

“We just want to win every game we can. We want to try and win the full thing [National title] this time. We got to the National final [last season] and now we want to try and win everything.”

What made the campaign ever more hectic for Headley was his break from putting on a City shirt every weekend to fly to Qatar after he was selected to represent England at the Under-17 World Cup.

Alongside fellow Blues Kaden Braithwaite, Harrison Miles, Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey, Headley had a tournament to be proud of as England bowed out after a Round of 16 defeat to Austria.

But it was still a special opportunity for Headley that he cherishes and values.

“The World Cup was a great experience to get away,” said the 17-year-old.

“Obviously we wish we could have won, but it was still a great experience to bring back what I learnt and play in the U18s still.

“It obviously helps because we went away and played against older players, and you come away with a bit more experience to then come back to better to help the team.

“And I just think everything is going well [this season]. I’ve been involved in a lot of big games, went to the World Cup and getting Youth League minutes so it’s been a good season so far.”

Interview: Holly Percival

In October this year, the nation lost best-selling author Dame Jilly Cooper.

he creator of books such as ‘Rivals’ and more recently ‘Tackle’, Dame Jilly was a much-loved figure in the literary and entertainment world but, I hear you ask, what’s that got to do with Manchester City?

Over the past decade or so, this writer was lucky enough to get to know Dame Jilly really well.

A while back, a footballer friend of mine – Jon Parkin – asked if I’d help him tidy up his autobiography, ‘Feed the Beast’, which I agreed to do in my spare time.

Parky played for a lot of clubs in his long career, including Macclesfield Town, Stoke City and Preston North End.

He’s also currently one of the presenters on the successful Under the Cosh podcast.

One of the things I asked him was who he wanted to write his foreword – he said, ‘You could try Tony Pulis… or Jilly Cooper.’

I laughed at the last name – how could Parky know Jilly Cooper?

But he was serious – he’d got to know Jilly when he was at Forest Green, and she was perhaps their most famous supporter and sometimes patron on occasions.

She’d asked to meet Jon and see if he could help her with her latest novel, which was about football, and he agreed to regale some of his many tales.

So, I went via Jilly’s agent and finally got to speak with her over the phone.

She agreed to write Parky’s foreword and added that me and my family were ever passing her part of Gloucestershire, we should pay her a visit.

As we annually holiday in Cornwall, that led to several visits to Jilly’s home where she was a genuinely lovely, warm host.

Of course, as her new novel was football-themed, that meant she could ask questions that I could help her with.

And she adored Manchester City.

Yes, Forest Green Rovers were her local side, but she loved the football Pep Guardiola’s side played and whenever we won a major trophy, she would call and congratulate me – not that our success was anything to do with me, of course!

I took her a City shirt on one occasion and when we next visited, she answered the door to me, my wife and our three kids wearing that City shirt with ‘No.5, Zabaleta’ on the back.

She also sent me a card to give Jack Grealish – which I somehow lost – sending him love and wishing him well after he’d suffered a break-in.

She was planning to come and watch a City game at the Etihad, something she would have absolutely loved.

Dame Jilly was undoubtedly a Blue at heart…

Words: David Clayton

City stars and CITC visit the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Rico Lewis, Marcus Bettinelli and Savinho recently visited the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital to spread some Christmas cheer.

Manchester City fans wearing Christmas-themed sweaters with club branding; they are grouped together at an event with festive decorations, focusing on gifts for City fans.

The annual visit, which included the donation of over 1,300 gifts, saw the group chatting with youngsters who are set to spend the festive season away from their homes.

The City stars also posed for pictures, played games and took selfies for the delighted youngsters in an event organised by City in the Community.

You can view highlights from the day here.

Commenting on the visit, City in the Community CEO, Mike Geary, said: “The players’ visit to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is a real highlight in our calendar.

“Thanks to support from the Club, ‘City Onside’ will support over 250 families and young people this season, with the aim of uplifting the physical and mental wellbeing of patients, their guardians and siblings.

“I’d like to thank the players, fans and Club for all their support.”

The hospital visit was arranged as part of Manchester City’s ‘Christmas Together’ campaign, which is raising funds for City in the Community’s year-round programme within the Ronald McDonald House and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The Club has been donating £5 to City in the Community from the sale of a range of festive items, including Christmas jumpers and teddies. Additional donations to the charity, are also being matched by the Club*.

Fans can support the campaign through the City in the Community Prize Draw. Starting at just £5 per ticket, all proceeds will go to CITC with Manchester City matching every donation made*.

Supporters can enter the draw as a one-off or via a monthly direct debit to automatically enter each month’s draw.

To find out more, visit: www.mancity.com/citcprizedraw.

Profits raised will enable City in the Community to expand its reach in the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to 250 patients and their families throughout the 2025/26 season, with support focusing on physical and mental wellbeing.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.mancity.com/ChristmasTogether.

You can be the first to hear about City in the Community's events and news! Manchester City's charity is delighted to now be providing fans with regular email updates, including announcements of exciting initiatives before anyone else.

To sign up and hear more, visit this link.

MCFC will donate £5 for each product* sold and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 04 November 2025 to 31 December 2025 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total. The first £150,000 raised will support City in the Community’s ‘City Onside’ programme, with any additional fundraising helping to sustain the charity’s broader purpose of empowering healthier lives with city youth through football.

** Selected Christmas retail products: Adult Christmas Jumper (Novelty and Fair Isle), Kids Christmas Jumper, Wolf Plush, Elf Plush, Teddy Plush

***Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, Qatar, Lebanon, and North Korea are the only excluded countries from the CITC Prize Draw.

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