How Manchester City's Masters Football Team Would Look in 2020

Breaking news: Manchester City were not formed in 2009.

I know, we had to double-check that too. But City were actually founded 1880, going through the names St. Mark's and Ardwick Association before landing on what we know them as today.

So when it comes to picking Manchester City's Masters Football squad, there's actually quite a long line to chose from, but before we get onto who's made the team, let's go over the ground rules:

Only players aged 35 or over are eligible, and they must not be currently playing, coaching, managing or have any other role at a club that isn’t only ambassadorial
Where possible, club legend games will be used to narrow selection choices
If a player has health conditions that would prevent them from playing, then they will not be included

Right, let's get cracking shall we?

David James (Goalkeeper)

Age: 49

Years Spent at Man City: 2004-2006

Club Highlight: Playing as a striker against Middlesbrough.

Club Lowlight: Any time he had to make a save.

We all remember David James, but the chances are you don't remember the former England international for a moment of magic he produced.

He didn't earn the nickname 'Calamity James' for nothing.

Richard Dunne (Defender)

Age: 40

Years Spent at Man City: 2000-2009

Club Highlight: Scoring six goals in the Premier League.

Club Lowlight: Scoring six own goals in the Premier League.

Before defenders got soft, the Premier League was graced with players like Richard Dunne.

The Irishman was a little rough around the edges, but Dunne was actually a prolific centre-back, even if half of his league goals for Manchester City actually went in the wrong net.

Dietmar Hamann (Midfielder)

Age: 46

Years Spent at Man City: 2006-2009

Club Highlight: Scoring on his European debut for City.

Club Lowlight: How he joined Manchester City.

Less than 24 hours before joining Manchester City, Didi Hamann had just signed on the dotted line for Bolton Wanderers. He spent two years at the club before leaving just as the money started to come in.

Steve McManaman (Midfielder)

Age: 48

Years Spent at Man City: 2003-2005

Club Highlight: Utter s***housery to get Gary Neville sent off in the derby.

Club Lowlight: Pretty much everything else.

Every now and then you come across a transfer and have to double-check that it actually happened. Steve McManaman's move to Manchester City, as well as Robbie Fowler's (yep, that did happen), is one of those.

Then Manchester City chairman John Wardle described the arrival of a 31-year-old McManaman, as well as Claudio Reyna, as showing 'real ambition'. Oh, how times have changed.

Shaun Wright-Phillips (Forward)

Age: 38

Years Spent at Man City: 1996-2005 & 2008-2011

Club Highlight: Winning the FA Cup.

Club Lowlight: That contract nonsense.

Well before Robinho and co arrived during Shaun Wright-Phillips' second spell in the north-west, it was Ian Wright's son himself who rose to become one of Manchester City's first icons in the Premier League era.

He made 262 appearances for City across all competitions, and even after, in his dad's words, getting 'mugged off' by the club's top brass, Wright-Phillips is still remembered very fondly by fans in sky blue.

Benjani (Forward)

Age: 41

Years Spent at Man City: 2008-2010

Club Highlight: Being Benjani.

Club Lowlight: Most of the time he touched a football.

Premier League fans are a strange bunch. The most bizarre players will be selected at random for cult hero status, not just at any one club, but across the whole division.

Benjani was one of those players.

He made 31 appearances for Manchester City and only scored seven goals, but for every Paul McGrath and Emmanuel Eboué there was, no one quite brought a smile to fans faces quite like Benjani.

If only he'd brought trophies, too.

Substitutes

Bacary Sagna (Defender)

Age: 37

Years Spent at Man City: 2014-2017

Club Highlight: Finally joining an 'ambitious club' in Man City.

Club Lowlight: Winning... the League Cup?

Now then, Bacary Sagna technically hasn't retired yet. But he left Montreal Impact a few months ago and the likes of Joleon Lescott or Martín Demichelis are already in jobs, so there really aren't too many other choices...

Martin Petrov (Winger)

Age: 41

Years Spent at Man City: 2007-2010

Club Highlight: Every time he had a shot on his left foot.

Club Lowlight: Being treated like a 13-year-old and hung out to dry.

It's hard to remember looking back, but Martin Petrov's move from Atletico Madrid was a big deal at the time. It came before City were bankrolled by their new owners, and the Bulgarian made a decent enough impact during his three-year spell.

Paulo Wanchope (Forward)

Age: 43

Years Spent at Man City: 2000-2005

Club Highlight: That backheel against Leicester City.

Club Lowlight: Getting relegated.

Because of the rules, there's no Shaun Goater, no Nicolas Anelka and, sadly, no Robbie Fowler, but Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope does make the final slot as he's been out of the managerial game for almost two years.

There were plenty of highs for Wanchope at Manchester City, but under Joe Royle, there were quite a few low points too.

For more from Ben Carter, follow him on Twitter!

Source : 90min