Manchester City’s rise from also-rans to global superpowers has been documented in a new three-part series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video last month. The documentary, titled City: The Making of a Superclub, traces the club’s transformation under the ownership of the City Football Group and the financial backing that turned Etihad Stadium into a fortress.
From Sheikh Mansour to Pep Guardiola
The first episode revisits the controversial 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a move that initially baffled analysts who questioned how oil wealth alone could reshape a club’s destiny. The documentary reveals internal memos from that era, including a leaked boardroom exchange in which a director reportedly asked, “What happens if we spend £10 million on a player and he still doesn’t score?” The answer came in the form of Carlos Tevez, whose arrival in 2009 symbolised the club’s new ambition.
By 2011, Roberto Mancini had delivered the club’s first domestic trophy in 35 years—a FA Cup triumph. Yet the documentary makes clear that that victory was merely the overture. The real turning point arrived in 2016 when Pep Guardiola arrived. The second episode dissects the manager’s first season, showing how his relentless training methods, once dismissed as “too European” for English football, gradually rewired the squad’s mentality. Raheem Sterling’s evolution from a promising winger into a Ballon d’Or contender is narrated through candid training-ground footage and interviews with Sterling himself.
Behind the Scenes of a Title Charge
The series dedicates an entire episode to the 2022-23 campaign, the season City won the Treble. Drone shots over the Etihad training complex capture Guardiola’s preparation for a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, revealing how he rotated squad members in the 48 hours before kick-off. A leaked audio clip from a team meeting captures Erling Haaland muttering, “I just want to score goals,” before Guardiola replies, “You will. But first we must control the game.”
What makes the documentary compelling is its access to the club’s analytics department. Viewers are shown real-time dashboards tracking player load, recovery times, and even sleep patterns. The series suggests that City’s data-driven approach is the unseen architect behind their relentless consistency. One sequence compares Manchester City’s average time of possession per match in 2012 (54%) to 2023 (68%), illustrating how possession became the club’s signature weapon.
Fan Culture and Global Expansion
The final episode shifts focus from the pitch to the stands and beyond. The documentary captures the club’s growing global footprint, from the 2023 pre-season tour in the United States to the inauguration of the City Football Schools in India and China. Fan testimonials from Manchester, Melbourne, and Abu Dhabi underscore how the club’s identity has expanded beyond its local roots.
Yet the series does not shy away from controversy. A segment on the club’s commercial deals includes footage of a 2021 board meeting where a director questions whether the Etihad naming-rights deal with Etihad Airways might alienate traditional supporters. The club’s response, aired in the documentary, is a reminder that even success comes with scrutiny.
Back in Manchester, the documentary ends with a montage of the 2023 FA Cup final, where Haaland’s header sealed the victory. The final shot lingers on the trophy being carried through the players’ tunnel, a moment that encapsulates both the club’s progress and the unrelenting standards it now sets.
For fans wanting to explore more about City’s tactical evolution, the Analysis section on Dave’s Locker offers deeper dives into Pep Guardiola’s formations. Those interested in how the club’s commercial model compares to rivals can visit the News pages for the latest coverage.
The documentary may be over, but its questions linger: How long can City sustain this level of dominance? And what happens when the money stops flowing at the same rate? For now, Manchester City have rewritten the rules of football, and this series ensures their story won’t be forgotten.
