Where are they now? The Manchester City XI on David Silva’s debut

Quick Reads

Planet Football
14th August 2020

David Silva was joined by some outstanding players in the Manchester City team on his debut back in 2010 – but it didn’t take long for the little genius to start standing out.

After joining from Valencia in 2010, Silva was at the heartbeat of City’s transformation into one of the best clubs in Europe.

We’ve taken a look back at the City team he first joined, with his competitive debut coming in a 0-0 draw against Tottenham in August 2010.

Joe Hart

It’s much nicer to think of Hart as he was back then (one of England’s most promising goalkeeping prospects) than he is now (one of England’s least promising goalkeeping prospects who’s just been released by Burnley), isn’t it?

Micah Richards

Having just turned 22 at the time of Silva’s debut, Richards, like Hart, was regarded as one of England’s brightest young prospects.

The defender was a key player alongside Silva in City’s first Premier League title win, earning a nomination for the club’s Player of the Year award, but his career was ravaged by injury after he joined Aston Villa in 2015.

Richards didn’t leave Villa Park until 2019, but he last kicked a ball for the club in October 2016.

Thanks for the nice words but am fully satisfied with how my career worked out. Injuries stopped my hitting more heights but how can a grumble at winning the prem playing in a different league and a tough mental challenge at villa! I give 100% in everything I do! That’s enough

— Micah Richards (@MicahRichards) February 10, 2019

Kolo Toure

Joined at the Etihad in 2010 by his brother Yaya, Toure became an incredibly popular figure wherever he has played.

The defender clearly made an impression on Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and is now a coach under the former Liverpool boss at Leicester City.

Vincent Kompany

Quite possibly the greatest leader Manchester City have ever been able to rely on, Kompany left the club in 2019 to return to Anderlecht as player-manager.

After their worst start to a league season since 1998-99, he stepped down to focus on being a player.

“Man City has given me everything”

Vincent Kompany statement #ManCjty pic.twitter.com/umw2DFxXyQ

— Mike Minay (@MikeMinay) May 19, 2019

Aleksandar Kolarov

Now 34, Kolarov is still going strong for Roma, making 100 Serie A appearances in his three years since leaving City.

But what we’re all here for really is his rendition of Jingle Bells.

Throwback to the enthusiastic rendition of Jingle Bells by Kolarov pic.twitter.com/X7uhb3y3i3

— ° (@TheMancTheMyth) December 5, 2018

Nigel De Jong

De Jong has played for six clubs since leaving City in 2012, most recently Qatari club Al-Shahania SC, who he joined in 2019.

We would very much like to see some footage of him patrolling their midfield, kicking everyone who dares come near him into the air.

Gareth Barry

Barry broke the Premier League appearance record while at West Brom in 2017 and remained with the Baggies for the two years it took them to get back out of the Championship following their relegation from the top flight.

He made only six appearances in 2019-20, though, and now 39 and out of contract, faces a decision over whether to look for another club or hang up his boots.

Yaya Toure

Toure joined Olympiakos after leaving City in 2018 but made only two appearances before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

His agent claimed in May 2019 that the midfielder had retired, but Toure signed for China League One side Qingdao Huanghai a couple of months later only to make a quick exit again in January 2020.

He’s 37 but not planning to retire anytime soon, training with Leyton Orient to keep himself fit ahead of another planned move abroad.

Most appearances for Manchester City in the Premier League:

David Silva (267)
Joe Hart (266)
Vincent Kompany (257)
Richard Dunne (253)
Yaya Touré (230)#MCFC 🔵… pic.twitter.com/nYYjNxcuq4

— EPL Bible (@_EPLBible) June 21, 2019

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Having played for City in both the second tier and Premier League across two spells, Wright-Phillips witnessed the transformation of the club perhaps better than anyone.

“The realisation kicked in for a lot of people the day after I went back as there was talk about Robinho signing,” he told The Sun in 2019.

“Within 24 to 36 hours later I was training with him. You think, ‘The owners are serious about this, they really want to do it.'”

The former England international last played professional football for Phoenix Rising in 2017, but his son D’Margio is now on City’s books.

Carlos Tevez

Now onto his third spell with Boca Juniors, Tevez top-scored for the club in the Primera Division in 2019-20 and has signed a new contract even at the ripe old age of 36. When they no longer want him, he’ll call it a day.

“Other times, I missed the club when I left, but this time it won’t be the same,” he told Canal 13. “I won’t go to another team and I’ll retire with this jersey.

“I don’t want to retire and then become a coach or director. I must prepare for such a role first.”