Ranking the top 5 goal-scorers in Manchester City history

Sergio Aguero is Manchester City's most prolific striker of all time, but who else joins him on this list?
Sergio Aguero is Manchester City's most prolific striker of all time, but who else joins him on this list?

With Sergio Aguero leaving Manchester City this summer, the club have lost one of their best ever strikers. The Argentine left the club as a free agent to join Barcelona and left behind a legacy that will be hard to surpass at the club.

Manchester City have only recently become the most dominant side in the Premier League over the last decade, however, the club have not had much success throughout their history and have only been a footnote in English football's storied past.

Even through their unimpressive past, however, Manchester City have had a few standout players that have been impressive in terms of individual performances for the club.

This list will shed light on some of the lesser-known players in Manchester City's history that have made a significant impact with their goal-scoring prowess at the club. So without further ado, here are

Manchester City's top 5 goalscorers of all time


#5 Joe Hayes (364 appearances) - 152 goals

Hayes in action for Manchester City
Hayes in action for Manchester City

Joe Hayes joined Manchester City as a youngster and went on to become one of their most prolific goal scorers in the 1950's.

The diminutive forward was a fox-in-the-box, with his mobility, pace, positioning and goal-scoring instinct which helped him score the majority of his goals at Manchester City. As a teenager, Hayes scored in the 1956 FA Cup final as his side won the game 3-1. This was, however, the only silverware he would win throughout his career.

Hayes played for Manchester City until the early 60's. However, his time at the club was cut-short due to a knee injury in 1963, which drastically affected his footballing ability. The Englishman left the club to join Barnsley in 1965 before retiring with Wigan Athletic two years later.


#4 Colin Bell (501 appearances) - 153 goals

Bell has been forever immortalised at Manchester City's Etihad stadium
Bell has been forever immortalised at Manchester City's Etihad stadium

One of Manchester City's greatest players of all time, Colin Bell was signed from Bury in 1965 and helped City gain promotion into England's top-flight division during his first season at the club.

A workhorse in midfield, Bell endured himself to the fans with his all-action displays in the center of the park. Bell was also a regular goal-scorer for Manchester City, failing to reach double digits only three times in his 13 year tenure at the club.

Bell was also one of the club's most decorated players at the time, winning the English First Division and Second Division titles as well as the FA Cup and European Cup Winner's Cup during his time at the club.

Bell was forced to retire from English football during the peak of his career in 1979 due to a serious knee injury.

#3 Tommy Johnson (354 appearances) - 166 goals

Tommy Johnson was lethal for Manchester City
Tommy Johnson was lethal for Manchester City

Despite his Manchester City career getting off to a slow start, Tommy Johnson became one of the club's most lethal strikers of all time. The Englishman was signed as a semi-pro from Dalton Casuals, on the recommendation of club defender Eli Fletcher back in 1919. However, he only became a regular starter three seasons later.

Johnson became a regular scorer for Manchester City. However, club success eluded him, with the 1926 FA Cup final being the closest the team came to winning any silverware during his tenure. City were also relegated that season, although Johnson's performances saw him get his first international call-up for England.

Johnson was prolific in the Second Division as well, helping City gain promotion and return to the top flight next season. The striker was later sold to Everton in 1930 and went on to help the Toffees win the 1933 FA Cup final against Manchester City.


#2 Eric Brook (494 appearances) - 177 goals

It is crazy to think that Eric Brook was Manchester City's top scorer for 76 years before his record was broken by Sergio Aguero. What is even more surprising is that the Englishman primarily played as a left-winger.

Brook was a dynamic player with good pace, agility and shooting ability. The Englishman was also incredibly clinical in front of goal, reaching double digit goal tallies in 11 consecutive seasons.

Brook was a huge part of Manchester City's 1936-37 title-winning team and was the highest scoring winger in the English First Division with 20 goals. He also set up the winning goal in the 1934 FA Cup final which saw City beat Portsmouth 2-1.

His goal-scoring antics looked like they would never be beaten, until the next man on the list joined Manchester City.


#1 Sergio Aguero (390 appearances) - 260 goals

Aguero changed Manchester City's fortunes
Aguero changed Manchester City's fortunes

Sergio Aguero is undoubtedly Manchester City's greatest player of all time and arguably one of the greatest goal-scorers in the history of the Premier League. The Argentine joined City from Atletico Madrid back in 2011. He quickly wrote himself into the club's history books by scoring one of the Premier League's most iconic goals of all time, which crowned them the 2011-12 champions.

Aguero's pace, movement and lethal finishing ability has helped the Argentine become one of the most feared strikers in the history of football. He is also one of Manchester City's most decorated players, having won five league titles, two FA Cups and six EFL Cups. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2014-15 season.

Aguero left the club earlier this summer as a free agent to join Barcelona, but will go down as both a Manchester City and a Premier League icon.

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Edited by Aakanksh Sanketh