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Manchester City is represented at Reserve level for football by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly Under-23 side that replaced the previous (more senior) Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy. The club is represented at the Under-18 level by the Manchester City Academy team.
City currently hold the 2023–24 FA Youth Cup.
Elite Development Squad
Football club | ||||
| Full name | Manchester City Elite Development Squad | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | |||
| Ground | Academy Stadium Sportcity, Manchester, England | |||
| Capacity | 7,000 (5,000 seated) | |||
| Chairman | Khaldoon Al Mubarak | |||
| Manager | Ben Wilkinson | |||
| League | Professional Development League | |||
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 Current season | ||||
The Elite Development Squad have played in the Under 21 Premier League since the 2012–13 season and previously played in the Premier Reserve League North. Starting with the 2011–12 season, the EDS competed in the NextGen Series competition, a Champions League format tournament only open to a select group of 'Under-19' teams located in western Europe. The NextGen Series organisers invited the 16 teams competing in the inaugural season of this new competition based on which clubs were considered to have the best academies in Europe. At the time, the EDS continued to play fixtures in both the Manchester Senior Cup and Lancashire Senior Cup plus several other matches and tournaments such as the Central League Cup.
In 2016-17 the U-21 Premier League was renamed as Premier League 2 and the age limit was raised to U-23. City won their first title at this level in the 2020–21 season and retained their title in 2021–22.
The UEFA Youth League launched in 2013–14, replacing the NextGen series, as a U-19 competition for the youth teams of Champions League participants and national champions at U-18 level. Teams fielded by City in this competition were therefore a hybrid of their EDS and academy squads. Their best performance to date has been a semi-final appearance in 2017–18.
Manchester City has fielded a reserve team since 1892 when the reserves played in the Lancashire Combination. The reserves were champions of the Lancashire Combination in 1901–02. The club left the Lancashire Combination in 1911 to join the Central League upon its formation. The City reserve team then played in the Central League until 2000, winning it on three occasions in the 1977–78, 1986–87 and 1999–2000 seasons. In 2006, the club re-entered the Central League – now the Pontin's League (West) – but this time in order to provide games for the 'Under-17' age group of players.
In recent seasons, Manchester City has purchased, registered and loaned young international players as part of their development strategy for the City Football Group. Although these players are officially Manchester City players, they have never made competitive appearances for City's senior or youth teams and may in future be transferred out before doing so. In 2022, FIFA have implemented new rules which will now restrict loans of this nature.
Home ground
The EDS play all of their home fixtures at the Joie Stadium.
Squad numbers
The squad numbers depicted for the EDS players in this article are the MCFC first team squad numbers – which means that these are the shirt numbers that the EDS players will wear if and when team-sheeted to play for the MCFC first team in either a friendly or competitive game. The current MCFC official first team squad consists of only about 20 players, however, the EDS players' squad numbers traditionally start in the region of the middle forties. For the Premier League 2, players use the 1–11 numbering system whilst squad numbers (including player names) are used for the EFL Trophy.
The MCFC first team squad numbers are normally assigned and published in late July during the close season and they remain constant for the entire duration of the upcoming season (meaning that a squad number that is assigned to a player in the close season who subsequently wears that number in a competitive match, but who later leaves the club during that same season, will not be assigned to another player during the remainder of that season).
Current squad
- As of 3 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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EDS players out on loan
These are EDS players who have previously made competitive appearances for the Manchester City Academy, EDS or First Team, or have been brought with the explicit intention to join the first team in future.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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City Football Group players
These are Manchester City players who are usually on loan as part of the CFG development strategy, are yet to make a competitive appearance for the club's Academy, EDS or First Team, or are over the age of 23.
On loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve/EDS Manager history
| Manager | From | To | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
 Tony Book |
1986 | 1996 | 1987 Central League |
 Asa Hartford |
1996 | 2004 | 2000 Central League, 2001 Manchester Senior Cup |
| Steve Wigley |
2004 | 2006 | 2005 Manchester Senior Cup |
| Frankie Bunn |
2006 | 2007 | |
 Kenny Jackett |
2007 | 2007 | 2007 Manchester Senior Cup |
| Ian Miller |
2007 | 2008 | 2008 Central League |
| Glyn Hodges |
2008 | 2009 | |
| Andy Welsh |
2009 | 2012 | 2010 Manchester Senior Cup |
 Attilio Lombardo |
2012 | 2013 | |
 Patrick Vieira |
2013 | 2016 | 2015 Premier League International Cup |
| Simon Davies |
2016 | 2018 | |
| Paul Harsley |
2018 | 2020 | |
| Enzo Maresca |
2020 | 2021 | 2021 Premier League 2 |
 Brian Barry-Murphy |
2021 | 2024 | 2022 and 2023 Premier League 2 |
| Ben Wilkinson |
2024 | present |
Academy
Football club | ||||
| Full name | Manchester City Academy | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Citizens, City, The Boy Blues | |||
| Ground | Academy Stadium Sportcity, Manchester, England | |||
| Capacity | 7,000 (5,000 seated) | |||
| Chairman | Khaldoon Al Mubarak | |||
| Manager | Oliver Reiss | |||
| League | Professional Development League | |||
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Manchester City's Academy is responsible for youth development at the club, with the goal of developing young players for the future. The academy is one of the most revered in the country and since its new incarnation in 1998, it has produced more professional players than any other Premier League club.
History
The club's first youth team was set up by Albert Alexander in the 1920s, known as the 'A' Team. From 1951 the 'A' team competed in the Lancashire League against reserve and youth teams of other clubs from North West England. From 1955 a second youth team, the 'B' team, typically comprising younger players than the 'A' team, competed in Division Two of the Lancashire League.
Youth football in England was restructured by the Football Association in 1997, with the introduction of the Academy system. Current International Youth Academy Director Jim Cassell joined from Oldham Athletic in July 1997 and was responsible for building Manchester City's youth structure, which gained Academy accreditation in 1998.
In its new incarnation, the 'A' and 'B' teams were replaced with 'Under-19' and 'Under-17' teams, which competed in the FA Premier Youth League. Since gaining FA approval in 1998 the academy has produced 84 players for Manchester City's first team, 38 of whom have gained full international honours, including England internationals Shaun Wright-Phillips, Micah Richards, Joey Barton, Daniel Sturridge, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis.The academy not only produces players for Manchester City but also players that have the talent to make the grade elsewhere, with players such as Ben Mee who's had a successful career at Burnley and Brentford, Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United, Kelechi Iheanacho at Leicester and Kieran Trippier formerly at Burnley, Spurs, Atlético Madrid and now at Newcastle United.
Present day
Since the club was taken over in September 2008, with extra capital and increased ambitions the club looked to expand their successful academy further afield and City in the Community programme in Manchester. In 2010, the Platt Lane complex was upgraded to include new facilities, such as a gym, changing rooms, as well as office and seminar space The club also launched an instructional video website aimed at helping the new skills of prospective footballers
City announced on 19 September 2011 that they would build an 80-acre training facility, known since as the City Football Academy to cater for around 400 youth players at a time, the campus was opened on 8 December 2014, and has since become the base for all senior and youth Manchester City men's and women's teams.
Squad numbers
The squad numbers (if any) depicted for the academy players in this article are MCFC first-team squad numbers – which means that these are the shirt numbers that the academy players will wear if and when they are selected to play for the MCFC first team in either a friendly or competitive game.
Current squad
- As of 24 July 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Academy Manager history
| Manager | From | To | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil McNab |
1994 | 1997 | |
| Jim Cassell |
1997 | 2009 | 2008 Youth Cup |
| Steve Eyre |
2009 | 2011 | |
| Adam Sadler |
2011 | 2013 | |
| Jason Wilcox |
2013 | 2016 | 2015–16 Professional U18 Development League |
| Lee Carsley |
2016 | 2017 | |
| Gareth Taylor |
2017 | 2020 | 2018–19 & 2019–20 U18 Premier League Cup |
 Carlos Vicens |
2020 | 2021 | 2020 FA Youth Cup, 2020–21 Professional U18 Development League |
| Ben Wilkinson
|
2021 | 2024 | 2021–22 and 2022–23 Professional U18 Development League, 2024 FA Youth Cup |
 Oliver Reiss |
2024 | present |
Academy graduates (1998–present)
- These are the academy players who have made at least one competitive appearance for the Manchester City first team.
- Academy graduates who still play for Manchester City, including those that are currently out on loan to other clubs, are highlighted in blue.
- Updated 1 September 2022
Retired from playing or unattached players
Active players
Honours
Elite Development Squad
- Premier League 2
- Premier League International Cup
- Winners (1): 2014–15
- The Central League
- Winners (4): 1977–78, 1986–87, 1999–00, 2007–08
- Lancashire Senior Cup
- Winners (6): 1920–21, 1922–23, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1952–53, 1973–74
Academy
- FA Youth Cup
- U-18 Professional Development League
- Northern Division Champions (10) 1997–98, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
- National Champions: (4) 2015–16, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
- U-18 Premier League Cup
- Winners (2): 2018–19, 2019–20
Notes
- Highest level determined from
- Highest level determined from
References
- Bandini, Nicky; Smyth, Rob (25 August 2010). "Watching EastEnders, and The Elite Squad". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "What is the Elite Development Squad?". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 27 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- "Barclays Under 21 Premier League Preview". mancity.com. 8 August 2012.
- "NextGen: The Season Starts Here". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 15 July 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- "NextGen Series: Mark Allen Explains". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 22 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- "Terms & Conditions". The NextGen Series. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- Baskcomb, Julian, ed. (1997). Manchester City F.C. Official Handbook 1997–1998. Leicester: Polar.
- "How the biggest clubs play a numbers game by stockpiling loan talent". inews.co.uk. 20 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- "FIFA to introduce new loan regulations". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- "Transfer news: FIFA announces radical new loan plans that will limit clubs to six loan exits per season". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- "CITY EDS". mancity.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- "MANCHESTER CITY UNDER 23". soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- Mumford, Jack. "Loan Round-Up: 2021/22 season". www.mancity.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oHNqgKOF8RnCVerH4GMhZ?si=9rSe1KDERRSGqAnExFEZug
- "Manchester City launch online football skills academy". BBC. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- James, Gary (2006). Manchester City – The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0. p241
- "Blues Academy to go global". 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- "Manchester City splash the cash on Platt Lane academy". 7 August 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- "Manchester City Ecademy". mancity.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- "Manchester City unveil 80-acre Etihad Academy plan". BBC. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Coyle, Simon (8 December 2014). "Watch: Take a look around the new City Football Academy". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- Edwards, John. "Academy contracts update". mancity.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- "MANCHESTER CITY FC UNDER 18 ACADEMY". soccerway. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- Bajkowski, Simon (1 July 2021). "Man City face tricky balancing act with Pep Guardiola's new appointments". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- Burke, Elias (24 September 2021). "Man City debuts for academy stars motivating next generation of talent". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- Bajkowski, Simon (23 January 2019). "What came next for City's eight academy debutants under Guardiola". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- "Manchester City youngsters suffer tough day as Pellegrini looks ahead | David Hytner". the Guardian. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Football League Rankings". www.globalfootballrankings.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- "The Graduates: No.1 Shaun Wright-Phillips". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 5 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.2 Terry Dunfield". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 5 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.3 Chris Shuker". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 6 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.4 Dickson Etuhu". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 6 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.5 Leon Mike". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 7 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.6 Chris Killen". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 7 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.7 Tyrone Mears". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 8 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.8 Joey Barton". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 8 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.9 Stephen Jordan". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 9 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.10 Willo Flood". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 9 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.11 Glenn Whelan". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.12 Stephen Elliott". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.13 Bradley Wright-Phillips". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 11 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.14 Nedum Onouha". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 11 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.15 Jonathan D'Laryea". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.16 Lee Croft". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.17 Stephen Ireland". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 13 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.18 Micah Richards". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 13 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.19 Ishmael Miller". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 13 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.20 Michael Johnson". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 18 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.21 Daniel Sturridge". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 19 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.23 Shaleum Logan". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.24 Kelvin Etuhu". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.26 Sam Williamson". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 25 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.27 Vladimír Weiss". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 7 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.32 Javan Vidal". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 9 November 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.31 Alex Nimely". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 9 November 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.35 Chris Chantler". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 14 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.37 Reece Wabara". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.22 Kasper Schmeichel". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 19 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.25 Ched Evans". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 25 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.28 Dedryck Boyata". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 7 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.29 Abdisalam Ibrahim". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.30 Greg Cunningham". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.33 Ben Mee". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 10 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.34 John Guidetti". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 10 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- "The Graduates: No.36 Ryan McGivern". mancity.com. (Manchester City Football Club). 14 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- "Nmecha seals U18 PL Cup for Man City". Premier League.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
External links
- Manchester City official website – Academy
- Manchester City Official website – Cityecademy
- The Manchester City academy way – These Football Times (2016)
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