Before Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero, the Manchester City, under the mandate of Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was known for costly transfers, but without winning titles or fighting to qualify for the Champions League.
The Argentine forward was the star signing of the Cityzens for the 2011-12 season and its impact was immediate because the team was placed among the candidates to win the Premier league.
With the official announcement of his retirement, Agüero will be able to be ranked among the best footballers of Manchester City history for the achievements he made, including leading them to the Premier League title in his freshman year.
First season in England
After being mocked by Manchester United fans for failing to win titles with their new owner and flashy signings, the Cityzens sought to win their first league in more than 40 years in the 2011-12 season, Aguero’s first with the team.
That campaign was the first they competed to win the Premier League, where their main rival was their hated city rival, Manchester United.
When @aguerosergiokun announced himself in the #PL #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/Y4D9S6QtQS
– Premier League (@premierleague)
March 20, 2021
Despite beating the ‘Red Devils’ 6-1 and 1-0 in their two league meetings that season, defeats with Swansea City, Everton and Sunderland over the course of that campaign left both Manchester teams with the same number of points, 86, prior to the last day of the Premier League.
One for the ages …
#onthisday 2012
#mancity pic.twitter.com/M6xWIoMyC6– Manchester City (@ManCity)
April 30, 2019
Thanks to better goal difference, the ‘Cityzens’ only needed one win to be Premier League champions, but would lose it with a draw or loss combined with a Manchester United win.
Aguero, break the hex
Both teams’ matches were played at the same time and even the Premier League was prepared by bringing a trophy to each stadium where the matches were played in case one of the two won.
While Manchester United had no trouble beating Sunderland 1-0 away, City suffered with Queen Park Rangers.
The Cityzens entered the 90th minute with a 2-1 deficit on their home court, the Etihad Stadium, and it seemed they would once again be the object of ridicule from the city’s residents.
Edin Dzeko tied the score in the 92nd minute and revived Manchester City’s hopes; Agüero put on the hero cape at 95 ‘when he received a ball from Mario Balotelli in the area, took off a defender and took a powerful shot to beat the Queen Park Rangers goalkeeper.
With that goal, City took the lead and secured the victory that gave them their first league title since 1968, as well as stealing a championship from the hated city rival.
The most iconic moment in Premier League history?
Relive Sergio Aguero goal in full, scored #OnThisDay 9 years ago pic.twitter.com/IsyXsgpbjk
– Premier League (@premierleague)
May 13, 2021
After that title, City won the Premier League four more times, in addition to playing a Champions League final and Agüero was the main factor in achieving all this.