• Joe Hart, had to make way for January signing Shay Given and was then loaned out to Birmingham but returned to become a key member of the 2012 and 2014 Premier League-winning teams. Joined Burnley this summer after loan spells at Torino and West Ham
    Joe Hart, had to make way for January signing Shay Given and was then loaned out to Birmingham but returned to become a key member of the 2012 and 2014 Premier League-winning teams. Joined Burnley this summer after loan spells at Torino and West Ham
  • Manchester City's Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta (R) Whole-hearted right-back who signed for City a day before the takeover and became a mainstay of the side and fan favourite. Featured in two title successes before joining West Ham in 2017. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta (R) Whole-hearted right-back who signed for City a day before the takeover and became a mainstay of the side and fan favourite. Featured in two title successes before joining West Ham in 2017. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Michah Richards (R) The City academy graduate was once one of the most exciting young defenders in the country. He shone in the 2012 title win but his career has since stalled due to injuries. Now at Aston Villa but has not made a first-team appearance in almost two years. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Michah Richards (R) The City academy graduate was once one of the most exciting young defenders in the country. He shone in the 2012 title win but his career has since stalled due to injuries. Now at Aston Villa but has not made a first-team appearance in almost two years. AFP PHOTO
  • Richard Dunne The Republic of Ireland international was captain and bedrock of the defence at the time of the takeover but left for Villa the following year. Now a TV pundit after ending his career at QPR. AFP PHOTO
    Richard Dunne The Republic of Ireland international was captain and bedrock of the defence at the time of the takeover but left for Villa the following year. Now a TV pundit after ending his career at QPR. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Michael Ball (R) Former Everton left-back who joined City in 2007 after spells with Rangers and PSV Eindhoven. Lost his place due to injury and the signing of Wayne Bridge and was released in the summer of 2009. Had a brief spell at Leicester in 2011. Now working as a consultant for a football agency advising youth players. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Michael Ball (R) Former Everton left-back who joined City in 2007 after spells with Rangers and PSV Eindhoven. Lost his place due to injury and the signing of Wayne Bridge and was released in the summer of 2009. Had a brief spell at Leicester in 2011. Now working as a consultant for a football agency advising youth players. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's English Midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips, The former England winger rejoined City for his second spell just before the takeover. He left for QPR in 2011 and has since played in the United States with New York Red Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's English Midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips, The former England winger rejoined City for his second spell just before the takeover. He left for QPR in 2011 and has since played in the United States with New York Red Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's German midfielder Dietmar Hamann (L) The former Liverpool midfielder left City in 2009 and retired two years later after a spell at MK Dons, where he then took up a coaching post. Also worked at Leicester before managing Stockport. Now a media pundit. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's German midfielder Dietmar Hamann (L) The former Liverpool midfielder left City in 2009 and retired two years later after a spell at MK Dons, where he then took up a coaching post. Also worked at Leicester before managing Stockport. Now a media pundit. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Belgian Midfielder Vincent Kompany, Began as a midfielder but went on to become the cornerstone of the defence and an inspirational captain, lifting all three of City's Premier League titles. Has just celebrated his own 10th anniversary at the club. Injuries have been a problem in recent years but he continues to play at a high standard. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Belgian Midfielder Vincent Kompany, Began as a midfielder but went on to become the cornerstone of the defence and an inspirational captain, lifting all three of City's Premier League titles. Has just celebrated his own 10th anniversary at the club. Injuries have been a problem in recent years but he continues to play at a high standard. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Stephen Ireland (L) Another of City's bright young hopes who excelled in that 2008-09 season, combining particularly well with Robinho. Squeezed out as new signings came in and moved to Villa in 2010. Spent the last four seasons at Stoke but was released in the summer. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Stephen Ireland (L) Another of City's bright young hopes who excelled in that 2008-09 season, combining particularly well with Robinho. Squeezed out as new signings came in and moved to Villa in 2010. Spent the last four seasons at Stoke but was released in the summer. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Brazilian forward Robinho, The initial headline-grabbing signing of the new owners, the Brazilian dubbed the 'new Pele' in his youth joined City from Real Madrid in a blaze of publicity. The Chelsea game was also his debut and he marked it with a goal. Initial returns were good but form and fitness fell away in his second season and he moved on. Now playing for Turkish club Sivasspor. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Brazilian forward Robinho, The initial headline-grabbing signing of the new owners, the Brazilian dubbed the 'new Pele' in his youth joined City from Real Madrid in a blaze of publicity. The Chelsea game was also his debut and he marked it with a goal. Initial returns were good but form and fitness fell away in his second season and he moved on. Now playing for Turkish club Sivasspor. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Brazilian Striker Jo (L) The Brazilian joined City for a then club-record £18million months before the takeover but his talent was seen only sporadically and he was loaned out to Everton the following year. He has since played in Brazil, Turkey, China and the UAE and is now at Japanese club Grampus Eight. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Brazilian Striker Jo (L) The Brazilian joined City for a then club-record £18million months before the takeover but his talent was seen only sporadically and he was loaned out to Everton the following year. He has since played in Brazil, Turkey, China and the UAE and is now at Japanese club Grampus Eight. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's keeper Kasper Schmeichel, Never established himself at City and moved down the divisions, first on a series of loans, before joining Notts County and then Leeds. He eventually returned to the top flight with Leicester, where he starred in their remarkable Premier League triumph of 2016. Also the Denmark number one. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's keeper Kasper Schmeichel, Never established himself at City and moved down the divisions, first on a series of loans, before joining Notts County and then Leeds. He eventually returned to the top flight with Leicester, where he starred in their remarkable Premier League triumph of 2016. Also the Denmark number one. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's English forward Daniel Sturridge (2nd R) Joined Chelsea in 2009 and moved to Liverpool four years later. Now hoping to re-establish himself after falling down the pecking order at Anfield due to injuries and the evolution of the team under Jurgen Klopp. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's English forward Daniel Sturridge (2nd R) Joined Chelsea in 2009 and moved to Liverpool four years later. Now hoping to re-establish himself after falling down the pecking order at Anfield due to injuries and the evolution of the team under Jurgen Klopp. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes (L) Switzerland international who left City in 2009 and now at Eintracht Frankfurt after a busy career involving stints at St Etienne, Chievo, Leicester, Udinese, Sporting Lisbon, Sion, Freiburg and Rennes. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes (L) Switzerland international who left City in 2009 and now at Eintracht Frankfurt after a busy career involving stints at St Etienne, Chievo, Leicester, Udinese, Sporting Lisbon, Sion, Freiburg and Rennes. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Welsh Striker Ched Evans (R) Served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence following a rape conviction that was subsequently quashed. Now at Fleetwood after previously playing for Sheffield United. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Welsh Striker Ched Evans (R) Served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence following a rape conviction that was subsequently quashed. Now at Fleetwood after previously playing for Sheffield United. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Spanish Defender Javier Garrido (L) The Spanish left-back struggled for game time after the takeover and joined Lazio in 2010. Later returned to England with Norwich. Had further spells at Las Palmas and in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca. Was linked with Nottingham Forest and Leeds last season. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Spanish Defender Javier Garrido (L) The Spanish left-back struggled for game time after the takeover and joined Lazio in 2010. Later returned to England with Norwich. Had further spells at Las Palmas and in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca. Was linked with Nottingham Forest and Leeds last season. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Brazilian forward Elano (L) The creative Brazilian proved a hit at City but the 2008-09 campaign was his second and last at the club before he was sold to Galatasaray. Later had two more stints with first club Santos and also played in India before retiring in 2016. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Brazilian forward Elano (L) The creative Brazilian proved a hit at City but the 2008-09 campaign was his second and last at the club before he was sold to Galatasaray. Later had two more stints with first club Santos and also played in India before retiring in 2016. AFP PHOTO
  • Manchester City's Tal Ben Haim (R) The former Bolton defender featured little at City and was loaned out to Sunderland midway through his only season at the club. Played for several clubs since, including Portsmouth, West Ham, QPR and Charlton. Now back in his native Israel with Beitar Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO
    Manchester City's Tal Ben Haim (R) The former Bolton defender featured little at City and was loaned out to Sunderland midway through his only season at the club. Played for several clubs since, including Portsmouth, West Ham, QPR and Charlton. Now back in his native Israel with Beitar Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO

Football

Where are they now? A look back at the Manchester City team 10 years ago after Sheikh Mansour's takeover - in pictures

September 1, 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the takeover of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

August 30, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

September 1 marks the 10th anniversary of the takeover of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.

The team have come a long way since then. Under the stewardship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, City have won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and three League Cups and are regular qualifiers for the lucrative Uefa Champions League.

The City squad boast a host of world-class players such as Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Spanish playmaker David Silva, recently voted the club's greatest ever purchase under Abu Dhabi ownership, as well as one of the world's top manager's in Pep Guardiola.

City lost their first game under the Abu Dhabi United Group banner 3-1 to Chelsea at what is now the Etihad Stadium on September 13, 2008.

The City team that day was managed by Mark Hughes and included the likes of Brazil internationals Robinho and Elano as well as England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vincent Kompany, the club stalwart who is the only survivor of the previous regime still at the club today.

Robinho, a high-profile £32.5 million recruit from Real Madrid that signaled City's arrival as a major spending force in European football, marked his debut with a goal but Chelsea came from behind to win an eventful game which also saw John Terry sent off.

Brazilian forward Robinho, wanted by Chelsea for much of that summer, endeared himself to City fans after just 13 minutes as he curled a free kick past Petr Cech with the aid of a slight deflection.

Chelsea responded just three minutes later as Ricardo Carvalho seized on some defensive uncertainty to finish with aplomb before Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka rounded off the scoring before Terry's straight red card for a foul on Jo.

We take a look at where the first City team to take to the field after the takeover are now. Simply scroll through the picture gallery above.

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Read more:

A decade at Manchester City: 10 key moments since the Sheikh Mansour takeover

No complaints from Guardiola as late Laporte header rescues point for Man City

Richard Jolly: Man City's Vincent Kompany determined not to make mistakes of past title defences

In pictures: Aguero scores hat-trick as Manchester City hit Huddersfield for six

All or Nothing: Amazon documentary offers insight into Manchester City's record-breaking Premier League title triumph

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