Sergio Agüero’s announcement on the 29th March that he would be leaving Manchester City at the end of this season signalled the end of the club’s original squad that won the 2011/12 Premier League title.

This was the team that delivered City’s first title in 44 years, which brought down so much ecstasy and joy to the blue side of Manchester.

Fans went through years of turbulence and fighting for survival while their neighbours were winning every trophy in sight.

Roberto Mancini’s men were determined to end the suffering, as Mancini said in the early days of his arrival:

“When we go to Old Trafford, we will take that banner down; this is the last year because we will win.”

The passionate Italian was referencing the cricket scoreboard banner, which reflected the amount of time City had gone without winning a trophy. Mancini delivered his promise in his first full season at the club, winning the FA Cup thanks to Yaya Toure’s strike against Stoke.

However, the current Italian national team coach wanted more success. He went on to build the foundations of a team which would support the club for a whole decade.

Sadly, when this season has finished, the team that gave City fans a dream in their hearts will be no more.

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart

Embed from Getty Images

Hart was the ever-reliable backbone of the team that uprooted the so-called original top six.

Born in the quaint Shropshire town of Shrewsbury, the energetic stopper made his debut for his home-town team on the 20^th April 2004, just a day past his 17th birthday.

The 2005/06 season proved the making of Joe Hart as a keeper. Hart won two accolades that season after being voted League Two’s best goalkeeper, as well as gaining a place in the League Two PFA Team of the Year.

It was the former England goalkeeper, Tim Flowers, who was goalkeeping coach at City, that spotted Hart’s talent. Flowers urged City to buy the England youth international, and a deal worth £100,000 was struck.

Hart made his City debut on the 14th October 2006 against Sheffield United and kept a clean sheet. He then undertook a series of loans, making six appearances for Tranmere Rovers and five for Blackpool that season.

Manchester City were taken over by former Thailand Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra in the summer of 2007. Sven-Göran Eriksson was appointed by the new regime, and the Swede soon installed Hart as his number one.

City’s new first-choice stopper went on to make 32 appearances under Eriksson.

In the summer of 2008, Manchester City became one of the richest clubs in the world, as Sheik Mansour swooped into drastically change the fortunes of the club. Despite rumours of a new goalkeeper being signed, Hart made 33 appearances that season under new manager Mark Hughes.

However, Hart became under pressure as Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given was signed in the January transfer window of 2009. Hart would then move on loan to Birmingham City the following season, where he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as gaining a place in the PFA Team of the year.

Manchester City had gone through more changes while Hart was away on loan. Hughes was dismissed from his post, and the eloquent Roberto Mancini replaced him.

Joe Hart admitted he thought his career was over when he was sent on loan, but Mancini put his faith in the young English keeper. Hart did not disappoint in his first start under the Italian, putting in an inspired performance away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Hart was key in Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph that season, helping the club to their first trophy since 1976. The ‘keeper also won the Premier League golden glove that season, with 18 clean sheets.

City’s FA Cup win was the start of a dynasty, which would become a trophy-winning machine. Mancini had the Premier League title in his sights.

Mancini delivered on his promise, and City were champions of England, with Hart at the centre of the success. He set the club record number of clean sheets, with 29, as well as winning his second consecutive Premier League Golden Glove.

Hart’s celebration after the Aguero goal is treasured in every City fan’s heart and showed a bond between players and fans. Hart would be named in the PFA Team of the Season.

Embed from Getty Images

City’s success continued, as well as Hart continuing mainly unchallenged for a first-team place. Hart would go on to win the Premier League Golden Glove twice more and put in some memorable displays, such as games against Barcelona in 2015 where he saved a Lionel Messi penalty.

Unfortunately for Hart, Pep Guardiola’s arrival signalled the end of the Englishmen’s time at the club. Guardiola preferred a ball-playing sweeper model, which Hart was not suited to and Claudio Bravo was brought in to fit the perfect mould.

Hart would go on two successive loans to Torino and West Ham United before signing for Burnley in 2018. Hart only made 19 appearances in two years at the club before signing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020 on a free transfer, where he currently resides.

Despite some high-profile errors, Hart does not get the recognition or praise he deserves for solidifying City’s backline when it was often suspect. His legacy will never be forgotten by Manchester City and the feelings are very much mutual.

After leaving Manchester City, Hart had this to say:

“My feelings towards Manchester City will never change; I’m eternally grateful to them as a football club. They took me as a 19-year-old boy from Shrewsbury Town, took somewhat of a punt on me, and I’ve had some fantastic times.”

See Joe Hart’s final interview with Manchester City here:

Costel Pantillimon

Embed from Getty Images

Manchester City fans had already seen Patillimon in action by the time the giant six-foot-eight Romanian arrived in the north-west. Pantillimon faced City in a Europa League clash representing FC Politehnica Timisoara, who City dispatched three-nil over the two legs.

The Romanian international initially joined the Citizens on loan to cover for Joe Hart, as Shay Given was allowed to join Aston Villa on a permanent deal.

Pantillimon made his debut against Birmingham City in the League Cup on the 21st September 2011. City’s enormous stopper kept a clean sheet, despite some moments of uncertainty for the debutant.

City’s back-up keeper would go on to make three more appearances, all in cup games. Pantillimon’s most notable contribution was to save a Wayne Rooney penalty in the FA Cup, but he could not prevent the rebound and City were eliminated three goals to two.

Patillimon was on the bench as Sergio Agüero struck to land Manchester City the title and the Romanian couldn’t have been more joyful.

The keeper went on to make 29 appearances for Manchester City, mainly in domestic cup competitions but was a patient and worthwhile servant of the club.

Pantillimon has gone on to represent Sunderland, Watford, Deportivo La Coruña on loan, Nottingham Forest firstly on loan before joining permanently, Omonia on loan and Denizlispor in Turkey, who he currently represents.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt

[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”224″ heading=”Manchester City” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”59″ heading=”EPL” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]

Revisiting the Manchester City squad of 2011/12: Part one