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Manchester City is often considered a club without much of a history or heritage by rival fans. However, with their recent triumphs, the Sky Blues have shushed their haters. The long-serving players are the ones that have helped the Sky-Blues build a dynasty that does not seem like it will go disappear anytime soon.
We can undoubtedly say Manchester City have been the most successful team in England's top-flight football in recent times. That too, by a fair margin.
Slipping into the third tier during the 90s, the club also found itself in a precarious position in terms of finance during the first decade of the new millennium. The Cityzens saw a spike in form and trophy collections thereafter, to the immense surprise of many.
From its birth in 1880 until 1968, Manchester City had only two Premier League/First Division titles under their belt. The club's recent dominance saw them take the count to seven titles by winning five Premier League trophies in last 10 seasons.
Manchester City, the fifth most decorated team in England's top-tier football in terms of trophy collection, is also a major threat across Europe. One of the major reasons for City's recent success is having Pep Guardiola at the helm.
His team management and wise usage of the club's transfer fund has paved the way for trophies as well as a talented bunch of players.
On that note, let's take a look at
Five longest-serving players in Manchester City's current squad
#5 John Stones (since August 9, 2016)
Lauded as one of the most formidable centre-backs currently, John Stones was the answer to Manchester City's aging defensive duo Kolarov-Kompany. The Englishman has made a total of 168 appearances for City.
Stones arrived from Everton as then the second-most expensive defender of all time for a fee of 47.5 million pounds. Since then, the English international has not looked back.
Stones is the first Manchester City player to score for England in a World Cup. The 27-year-old also had a massive role to play in England's stupendous EURO 2020 campaign, where they conceded just two goals throughout the tournament.
#4 İlkay Gündoğan (since July 1, 2016)
Pep Guardiola's first signing since taking over Manchester City was a fine one. He found answers to his midfield concerns in Borussia Dortmund's key player — İlkay Gündoğan. The German has made 217 appearances for City since joining.
A stellar start to his debut season at the Etihad was hindered by a serious injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. However, the German international returned to his position in the middle of the park and continued bossing the zone.
İlkay Gündoğan is the first Manchester City player to have won back-to-back Premier League Player of the Month awards. He was also Manchester City's top scorer (13) in the previous title-winning season.
#3 Kevin De Bruyne (since August 30, 2015)
Kevin De Bruyne is not just one of the longest-serving players within the ranks of Manchester City right now but also one of their best players. The Belgian has made 267 appearances for City.
Despite being one of the top players in football at the moment, he couldn't find his touch until late 2014. Having spent below-par stints with Chelsea and Werder Bremen, De Bruyne started earning widespread recognition during his time with Wolfsburg.
The Belgian's move to Manchester City was perfect for him as he saw immense upward growth in his career graph with the current Premier League champions. Under Pep Guardiola, the 30-year-old has evolved to be one of the finest midfielders to have ever played the game.
#2 Raheem Sterling (since August 30, 2015)
Raheem Sterling was one of the most sought-after talents during his boyhood days. Having many options to choose from, the English international chose Liverpool and went on to become one of the most-famed prodigies within the club's legions.
At the age of 20, despite being offered a lucrative deal, Sterling opted to move to Manchester City in order to get a better shot at winning titles. Even though the move wasn't well received by the club or its fans, it was fruitful for Sterling. He has since made 300 appearances for City.
Under Pep Guardiola, Sterling kept polishing his skills and is now one of the most experienced and talented players within the club. Following Aguero's departure, it is expected of Raheem Sterling to deliver on almost all occasions.
#1 Fernandinho (since July 1, 2013)
The club's captain Fernandinho also happens to be their most experienced and longest serving player. The Brazilian has made 356 appearances for City.
Fernandinho, other than his skillset and leadership abilities, is also known for having spent lengthy stints with each of the clubs he has played with. After spending eight seasons with Shakhtar Donetsk, the Brazilian signed for Premier League juggernaut Manchester City in the summer window of 2013.
With the arrival of youngsters and age being against him, Fernandinho's spot in the starting XI looked threatened. However, his experience and prowess in leading the defensive line made him a regular name within the team's starting line-up.
If a team has three Fernandinhos, they would be champions. We have one, but he is fast, he is intelligent, he is strong in the air, he can play several positions. When he sees the space he will run there immediately. When you need to make a correction, you just need one player to challenge, and he is there — Fernandinho's manager Pep Guardiola about his importance within the team.
The 36-year-old was appointed club captain the previous year and helped Manchester City secure their seventh top-division title and his first as captain.
