English and European Champions Manchester City will unveil a permanent tribute to three of their greatest players ahead of next Tuesday’s Champions League Group G clash with RB Leipzig.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, have had a long held desire to recognise the club’s storied past as part of the club’s legacy project and commissioned world-renowned sculptor David Williams-Ellis to fulfil the latest stage of the undertaking.
Williams-Ellis has now finished his piece depicting the legendary triumvirate of Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee.
Details of the work are being kept under wraps until the unveiling next week but it is known that the sculptor’s latest work will be located on the West side of the Etihad Stadium perimeter and will be in place for fans to enjoy ahead of the game against Leipzig.
Bell, Lee and Summerbee are City legends from the 1960s and '70s, playing 1,000 games between them for the club, scoring 276 goals and amassing 83 caps for England.
Sadly Bell, who already has a stand named after him at the ground, and Lee, a former City chairman, have both passed away, but Summerbee, a club ambassador, will be present to see the statue unveiled.
A student of eminent drawing teacher, Nerina Simi, Williams-Ellis sought out classical training in Florence where his signature style was first established.
His sculptures, worked in clay, from life, are inspired by the romanticism of French sculptors Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle and are noted for their sense of movement and vitality.
With exhibitions proudly displayed at Perthshire’s Scone Palace, Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum and the IFC Building in Shanghai, Williams-Ellis is perhaps most famously known for his commission of the Normandy Memorial Trust’s D-Day Sculpture. That monument was unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron and then-British Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019.
Designed and created at his home studio in Oxfordshire, Williams-Ellis' work on this City commission has focused on capturing the motion and characteristics of each player and embodying the spirit of their combined 30 years representing the club.
The initiative is the latest in a series of tributes to key figures forming the club’s legacy project, first announced in 2019 and directed by City chairman Al Mubarak.
Modern-day legends Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva were celebrated on their respective departures from the club, with each of their sculptures located on the east side of the stadium, in addition to permanent mosaic artworks featured throughout the City Football Academy.
Speaking of his appointment to the project Williams-Ellis said: “It is a great honour to create a work of art for Manchester City Football Club celebrating the diverse, talented players, Bell, Lee and Summerbee.
“It’s been an extraordinary last two years, working on this project that celebrates these players from a great era in Manchester City’s football history.
“I hope that the work will give a sense of history and place to the legions of fans and visitors that come to the football ground from around the world and become an enduring part of Manchester’s cultural landscape.”
Chelsea 4 Manchester City 4 - player ratings
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CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Unfortunate to concede four. He went the wrong way for Haaland’s penalty and could do little about City’s second or third. He stood no chance once again when Rodri’s shot, City’s fourth goal, took a deflection. AP -
Playing his first back-to-back games of the season, James opened up City’s defence working alongside Palmer. He then forced Ederson to push over a dangerous free-kick, and helped Chelsea take the lead with an assist. AFP -
A little shaky in parts but largely up to the task, defending well in his area with several clearances and blocks. Reuters -
The 39-year-old was left unmarked to head home from a corner to quickly equal the scoreline at 1-1. Later, it was from his outstretched leg that Rodri’s long-range shot deflected goalwards, and Sanchez had no chance of saving. AP -
Replacing the injured Colwill, Cucurella offered an early option on the wing for the Blues. However, a mismatch in the box saw him concede a penalty for tugging on Haaland’s shirt. Booked. Reuters -
Kept busy throughout and the Ecuadorian was heavily involved in a gruelling midfield battle. Booked for a foul on Grealish. EPA -
The Argentine had his usual fine range of passing but left Akanji unmarked for his goal and faded as the game went on. AFP -
In his first meeting against his former side, Palmer proved a constant threat that City couldn’t deal with. Rewarded by scoring from the spot when Broja was brought down in the box. Booked. AP -
An all-action display by Chelsea's standout midfielder. Never stopped running from box to box, offered link-up play between defence and attack, and created Jackson's goal. AFP -
Outstanding in the first half, the former City star made a positive start to the game, linking up play and pushing attacks, and he was in the right place to tap in James’ cross. Made life hard for Walker on the wing. AFP -
A much quieter display by the Senegalese striker, but he was in the right place to tuck home Gallagher’s shot which Ederson was unable to hold. Booked. PA -
SUBS: (Fernandez 64’) Came off the bench and started brightly but saw his impact wane as the game went on. Reuters -
(James 64’) Continued where James left off, and gave City’s left flank little respite. Should have done better when Sterling found him in free space, but he could only shoot over the bar. AP -
(Caicedo 90’) Brought plenty of late drama to the game seconds after coming on when he was brought down in the box by Dias. AFP -
(Jackson 90'+6) A late change as Chelsea looked for a winner. Getty Images -
MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Got fingertips to James’ superb freekick to push it over the crossbar, but could do little about Silva or Sterling’s goals. He was unable to hold onto Gallagher’s shot from distance either, which allowed Jackson to net Chelsea’s third. Stood no chance against Palmer from the spot. Reuters -
Denied Jackson a run on goal in the opening stages but struggled as Sterling dominated parts of the game. Fired a set piece over the crossbar in stoppage time. Reuters -
Returning to the starting XI, Dias didn’t look confident at the back. He brought Broja down in stoppage time, conceding a penalty that levelled the scores once again. Reuters -
Rewarded with a start after returning to training earlier in the week, Akanji met Bernardo Silva’s cross to nod home City’s second before the break. Reuters -
Run ragged in his head-to-head with James on the wing, with James running rings around him and able to slot a cross across for Sterling to knock home Chelsea’s second. AP -
Found it hard to deal with Chelsea’s attacking talent but he probably won’t mind after scoring City’s fourth with a deflected effort. Booked. AFP -
Delivered the ball into the box for Akanji to head home City’s second of the game but an otherwise quiet game by his exceptionally high standards. AFP -
Saw a curling effort go narrowly wide of Sanchez’s far post just after Chelsea’s equaliser before he was played in by Alvarez to help City score their third. AP -
The Argentine forward had a quiet first half but started the second half with a new sense of energy to create Haaland’s second of the game. Fired a shot directly at Sanchez moments later. AP -
After an outstanding game against Bournemouth, Doku struggled to find his groove against James until he was set on the break by Haaland, where his shot was blocked by Sanchez. Booked for diving and substituted after 60 minutes. AFP -
City’s top goalscorer comfortably slotted a penalty past Sanchez, when his shirt was pulled in the area. Should have later levelled the scores when he was denied a second by Sanchez before half-time, but he tucked home his second goal minutes after the restart. Reuters -
SUBS: (Doku 59’) Unable to get a real foothold on the game when he came on but did get stuck into the action. Booked. EPA -
(Alvarez 80’) Having made the switch from Stamford Bridge in the summer, Kovacic was met by mixed reactions on his return. EPA
