View source for Company:City Football Group

{{Infobox company
| name               = City Football Group
| logo               = [[File:City Football Group logo.png]]
| type               = Holding company
| industry           = Sports<br>Sports services
| founded = 2014
| founder            = <small>HH</small> Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan<br>Khaldoon Al Mubarak
| owner              = Abu Dhabi United Group (87%)<br>China Media Capital/CITIC Capital (13%)
| hq_location        = 
| hq_location_city   = [[Place:London|London]], {{wipe|United Kingdom}}
| key_people         = Khaldoon Al Mubarak<br>Ruigang Li<br>Brian Marwood<br>Ferran Soriano<br>Tom Glick
| subsid             = Manchester City F.C. (100%)<br>New York City FC (80%)<br>Melbourne City FC (100%)<br>Yokohama F. Marinos (20%)<br>Club Atlético Torque (100%)<br>Girona FC (44.3%)<br>City Football Academy<br>City Football Marketing<br>City Football Services<br>City Football Japan<br>City Football Singapore<br>City Football China
| revenue            = {{gain}} {{GBP|473.375|link=yes}} million<ref name="FR2017">{{cite web|url=https://annualreport2017.mancity.com/assets/download/Financials.pdf |title=Directors' Report and Financial Statements |format=PDF}}</ref>
| revenue_year       = 2017
| operating_income   = {{gain}} {{GBP|4.384}} million<ref name="FR2017"/>
| income_year        = 2017
| net_income         = {{gain}} {{GBP|1.088}} million<ref name="FR2017"/>
| net_income_year    = 2017
| assets             = {{gain}} {{GBP|678.208}} million<ref name="FR2017"/>
| assets_year        = 2017
| num_employees      = 709
| num_employees_year = 2015
| website            = {{Official website|https://www.cityfootballgroup.com/}}
</ref>}}

The '''City Football Group''' (CFG) is a [[Social:Holding company|holding company]] that administers association football clubs under the ownership of Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.mcfc.co.uk/~/media/Files/Annual%20Report/MCFC_AR.pdf |title=MANCHESTER CITY ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 |work=mcfc.co.uk |date=29 January 2014 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref> It is part-owned by Chinese firms China Media Capital and CITIC Capital.<ref name="ChinaInvestment">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2015/December/CFG-statement-1-December-2015/1448953247 |title=CFG Statement: 1 December 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208130921/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2015/december/cfg-statement-1-december-2015/1448953247 |archivedate=8 February 2016 |work=mcfc.co.uk |date=1 December 2015 |accessdate=1 December 2015}}</ref>

The company's flagship club is Manchester City F.C. in the English Premier League. It also owns parts of clubs in the United States, Australia, Japan, Spain, and Uruguay. The company's aim is to own a team on each continent, each with the identifier "City" in its name.<ref name="china">{{cite web|last1=Delaney|first1=Miguel|title=Manchester City ownership group plans Chinese Super League expansion|url=http://www.espnfc.us/manchester-city/story/2832405/manchester-city-ownership-group-planning-china-expansion|website=ESPNFC|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref>

== Clubs ==
=== Manchester City FC ===

The Abu Dhabi United Group was founded in the summer of 2008, as Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan looked to take over Manchester City Football Club from the former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra.<ref name="ADUG">{{Cite news |title=Manchester City's new owners put national pride before profit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/sep/01/manchestercity.premierleague1 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 September 2008 |accessdate=2011-09-05}}</ref> The Abu Dhabi United Group was set up in order to facilitate the purchase of the Premier League club.

After its takeover, Manchester City launched into a complete overhaul of all departments, intent on rising to the top as fast as possible. On the pitch, the following seasons saw the team replaced under the management of Mark Hughes<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/5836298/Mark-Hughes-defends-Manchester-Citys-summer-spending-spree.html |title=Mark Hughes defends Manchester City's summer spending spree |work=Daily Telegraph |date=16 July 2009 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-1226890/Big-spending-Manchester-City-boss-Mark-Hughes-lookout.html |title=Big-spending Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is always on the lookout |work=Daily Mail |date=11 November 2009 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref> and then a second time under Roberto Mancini as the lobbying of established UEFA Champions League clubs in the Premier League<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19499560 |title=Manchester United at forefront of financial fair play bid - Whelan |work=BBC Sport |date=6 September 2012 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="Martin Samuel legend">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2550483/They-beat-City-pitch-Arsenal-Chelsea-Liverpool-ganging-squealing-UEFA-THATS-RICH-MARTIN-SAMUEL.html |title=They can't beat City on the pitch so Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are ganging up on them and squealing to UEFA... THAT'S RICH! |work=Daily Mail |date=2 February 2014 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref> forced the Manchester team to act quickly in order to achieve Champions League status before the newly implemented Financial Fair Play Regulations made it inviable for teams to spend outside of their earnings in an attempt to move up the table. Meanwhile, off the pitch City spent £10 million on revamping their Platt Lane academy base<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-city-splash-the-cash-on-platt-895956 |title=Manchester City splash the cash on Platt Lane academy |work=Manchester Evening News |date=7 August 2010 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref> as they formulated plans to produce a £100m training and academy facility on land opposite their stadium, studying training facilities around the world in an attempt to create the world's foremost development in its field.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/sep/19/manchester-city-barcelona-premier-league |title=Manchester City's £100m plan to be the Barcelona of the Premier League |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=19 September 2011 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14973123 |title=Manchester City unveil 80-acre Etihad Academy plan |work=BBC Sport |date=19 September 2011 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref> This came in conjunction with the announcement in 2014 that they had received planning permission to increase their stadium capacity to over 62,000, making it the second largest club stadium in England.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-26168685 |title=Manchester City's Etihad Stadium expansion approved |date=13 February 2014 |accessdate=14 February 2014}}</ref> Further investment came in the field of fan engagement, where City committed themselves to a policy of winning the global popularity contest with a mass display of social media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/manchester-city-the-most-social-media-savvy-club-in-the-world-1.1069065 |title=Manchester City: The most social media-savvy club in the world |date=2 September 2014 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/2011/08/31/419-the-worlds-richest-soccer-club-is-like-a-free-content-startup/ |title=Interview: The World’s Richest Soccer Club Is Like A Free Content ‘Startup’ |date=31 August 2011 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2011/09/01/manchester-city-sets-goal-being-worldrsquos-best-supported-soccer-club |title=Manchester City sets the goal of being the world’s best-supported soccer club |date=1 September 2011 |accessdate=15 February 2014}}</ref>

Under Mansour's leadership, Manchester City Football Club have currently lifted the 2011 FA Cup, 2011–12 Premier League, 2013-14 Premier League, 2017-18 Premier League, 2012 FA Community Shield, 2018 FA Community Shield, 2013–14 Football League Cup, 2015-16 Football League Cup, and the 2017-18 Football League Cup.

==== Manchester City Women ====

Although Manchester City Women had existed since 1988 (previously under the name ''Manchester City Ladies F.C.'') they existed solely as an affiliate of the club until August 2012, with few shared resources and with CFG enjoying no control over the club's management. After four years of control of the men's side in Manchester, the Abu Dhabi United Group - progenitors of City Football Group - elected to bring the women's team under their aegis also, forming a partnership with the club which would effectively make it a department of Manchester City F.C.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/City-Ladies/2012/August/MCFC-announce-partnership-with-MCFCL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114071548/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/City-Ladies/2012/August/MCFC-announce-partnership-with-MCFCL |title=City announce formal partnership with MCFC Ladies |date=28 August 2012 |archive-date=14 November 2012 |accessdate=10 April 2016 }}</ref>

Very soon after taking control of the club, ADUG announced their intention to support their women's department as they had supported the men, relaunching the club as ''Manchester City Women's Football Club''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/mcwfc-news/2014/january/city-women-launch-season/1390491480 |title=Manchester City Women's Football Club re-launched |date=24 February 2014 |accessdate=10 April 2016 }}</ref> and successfully lobbying for the team to be added to the top tier of the FA Women's Super League when it was expanded, fuelled by promises of levels of support and funding not usual in women's football in the UK. Their support was rapidly repaid, with their radically reshaped team producing a first major trophy in the 2014 FA WSL Cup<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29654634 |title=Continental Cup: Manchester City beat Arsenal to win first trophy |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=10 April 2016 }}</ref> before narrowly missing out on a league triumph the following season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34372477 |title=WSL 1: Manchester City Women 2-1 Notts County Ladies |date=4 October 2015 |accessdate=10 April 2016 }}</ref>

=== New York City FC ===
When Ferran Soriano was appointed Manchester City CEO in August 2012, Don Garber reached out to him about a New York City team,<ref name="Bennett">{{cite news|url=http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/relegationzone/id/866?cc=5901|title=Ambitious Garber ready for next challenge|date=28 May 2013|first=Roger|last=Bennett|work=Relegation Zone|publisher=ESPN FC}}</ref> having previously held discussions with him in his former capacity as Vice President of Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/02/11/1105039/garber-barcamiami-team-would-start-in-2010|title=Garber: Barca/Miami Team Would Start in 2010|first=Greg|last=Lalas|work=Goal.com|date=February 11, 2009}}</ref> In December 2012, unnamed sources told the media that Manchester City were close to being announced as the new owners of the 20th team of Major League Soccer (MLS), and the brand name "New York City Football Club" was trademarked, although the club quickly denied the report.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-14/manchester-city-said-close-to-becoming-owner-of-mls-queens-team.html |title=Manchester City Said Close to Being Awarded MLS Queens Team |date=15 December 2012|work=Bloomberg|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref> However, Garber announced in March 2013 that he was almost ready to unveil the new expansion team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/03/17/mls-commissioner-don-garber-talks-nyc2-progress-florida-expansion-champions- |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks NYC2 progress, Florida expansion, Champions League schedule tweak |date=17 March 2013|work=mlssoccer.com|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref>

New York City Football Club, LLC was registered with the New York State Department on 7 May 2013,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://appext20.dos.ny.gov/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_nameid=4396707&p_corpid=4399753&p_entity_name=new%20york%20city%20football%20club&p_name_type=A&p_search_type=BEGINS&p_srch_results_page=0 |title=Entity Information |accessdate=25 May 2013| work=NYS Division of Corporations, State Records and UCC}}</ref> and on 21 May New York City FC was officially announced as the 20th MLS franchise.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/21/major-league-soccer-announces-new-york-expansion-team-new-york-city-football |title=Major League Soccer announces New York expansion team: New York City Football Club |date=21 May 2013|work=mlssoccer.com|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref> Linking the club to its English parent, the new MLS side hired as its first employee former Manchester City, MLS and US national team player Claudio Reyna to serve as Director of Football,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/22/new-york-city-fc-name-claudio-reyna-director-football-operations |title=New York City FC name Claudio Reyna director of football operations |date=May 22, 2013 |work=mlssoccer.com |accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref> while a statement of intent was made with the signing of home-grown rising star manager and MLS Cup winner Jason Kreis to serve as the team's first head coach.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nycfc.com/News/Latest-News/2013/December/Head-Coach? |title=Jason Kreis named as Head Coach |date=December 11, 2013 |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |work=nycfc.com }}</ref> In 2016, Manchester City's academy manager Patrick Vieira moved to New York to manage NYCFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2015/11/09/patrick-vieira-appointed-new-york-city-fc-head-coach|title=Patrick Vieira appointed as New York City FC Head Coach|website=nycfc.com|date=November 9, 2015|accessdate=March 23, 2017}}</ref>

=== Melbourne City FC ===
The group's ownership of the club was announced on 23 January 2014, with the news that Manchester City had acquired the then-named Melbourne Heart for $12 million. After several days of talks in Melbourne and Sydney, City's senior executives completed the deal which saw them own 80% of the Australian club. City Football Group bought the other 20% that was held by a consortium of businessmen allied to Australian rugby league club Melbourne Storm.<ref>http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/exclusive-english-premier-league-giants-manchester-city-are-the-new-owners-of-melbourne-heart/story-fni2fopz-1226808309021#ixzz2rBIUYwS3</ref>

The takeover of the Australian A-League club came only days after an application to trademark the name "Melbourne City Football Club" was lodged on 16 January. Coincidentally, Melbourne Heart's minority shareholders also registered the business name "Melbourne City FC" with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and bought the domain name "MelbourneCityFC.com.au".<ref>{{cite web|title=Manchester City buy A-League's Melbourne Heart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/23/manchester-city-buy-melbourne-heart|publisher=theguardian.com|accessdate=23 January 2014}}</ref> In August 2015, City Football Group bought out the sports consortium to acquire 100% ownership of the club.<ref name="afr"/>

Since August 2015, City Football Group has held 100% ownership of Australian-based sister club Melbourne City Football Club.<ref name="afr">{{cite web|url=http://www.afr.com/business/sport/manchester-city-buy-out-wealthy-melbourne-city-investors-20150730-gio4k8|title=Manchester City buy out wealthy Melbourne City investors|date=2 August 2015|accessdate=5 August 2015|author=John Stensholt|publisher=Australian Financial Review}}</ref>

==== Melbourne City NPL ====
As part of the expansion of the National Premier Leagues Victoria 1 (now known as NPL Victoria 2), Melbourne City had an application accepted to field a team based around their now-defunct Youth side in the competition along with five additional new entrants. On 6 December 2014 they announced the creation of their NPL team, which began competition in the 2015 season.<ref name="NPL">{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/fixture-news-national-premier-leagues-1/18je97f002ue01qgyx7265719z |title=Fixture News: National Premier Leagues 1 |date=6 December 2014 |accessdate=2 October 2016 |work=melbournecityfc.com.au }}</ref>

==== Melbourne City Women ====
Following the success of their investment in Manchester City's women's team, CFG announced their continued support of women's football with the creation of a women's department in Melbourne in 2015 which was accepted as an expansion team in the W-League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/melbourne-city-fc-set-to-field-w-league-team-in-2015/eshra90uyuhx108com93atgzf? |title=Melbourne City FC set to field W-League team in 2015 |work=melbournecityfc.com.au |date=13 May 2015 |accessdate=13 May 2015 }}</ref>

Facing a league bereft of meaningful investment, CFG's support of their team produced a clean sweep of the board, with their women's team going unbeaten as they won both the league and the play-off series at the first time of asking in the 2015–16 W-League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-31/melbourne-city-complete-dominant-season-with-grand-final-win/7128196|title=W-League grand final: Melbourne City beat Sydney FC|work=ABC News|date=31 January 2016}}</ref> setting a series of club and player records as they went.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thewomensgame.com/2015/12/melbourne-city-roll-on-as-records-tumble/ |title=Melbourne City roll on as records tumble |date=22 December 2015 |accessdate=10 April 2016 }}</ref>

=== Yokohama F. Marinos ===
On 20 May 2014, it was announced that City Football Group had invested in a minority share of Yokohama F. Marinos, creating a partnership with both the football club and car manufacturer Nissan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manchester City reveals plan to invest in Yokohama F. Marinos|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/20/soccer/j-league/manchester-city-reveals-plan-invest-yokohama-f-marinos/#.VI7sO2IaySM|accessdate=15 December 2014|agency=AFP-JiJI|publisher=The Japan Times|date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> City Football Group is estimated to hold 20 percent of Yokohama F. Marinos' existing shares, but through the establishment of a Japan-based subsidiary may seek to eventually own a controlling stake in the club.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kano|first1=Shintaro|title=Soccer: Man City group to open Japan front, look to increase stake in Marinos|url=https://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2014/12/329770.html|accessdate=1 January 2015|agency=Kyodo News|date=December 31, 2014}}</ref>

===Club Atlético Torque===
On April 5, 2017, CFG announced that it had acquired Club Atlético Torque, a club in [[Place:Montevideo|Montevideo]] currently playing in the Uruguayan Primera División.<ref name="SouthAmerica">{{cite web|title=CFG EXTENDS SOUTH AMERICAN FOOTPRINT|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/2017/04/05/city-football-group-extends-south-american-footprint-club-atletico-torque-atletico-venezuela/1491408720563|website=mancity.com|publisher=Manchester City|accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref>

===Girona===
On August 23, 2017, it was announced that the City Football Group had acquired 44.3% of La Liga side Girona. Another 44.3% was held by the Girona Football Group, led by Pere Guardiola, brother of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.<ref>{{cite web|title=Girona FC, acquired by new investors|url=http://www.gironafc.cat/noticia/el-girona-fc-adquirit-per-nous-inversors|publisher=Girona FC|accessdate=23 August 2017|language=ca}}</ref> Girona had previously been loaned a number of players by Manchester City while they were in the Segunda División, in what was seen by some as an attempt to attract Pep Guardiola to Manchester City.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/02/04/revealed-how-manchester-city-courted-guardiolas-brother-to-get-p/ |title=Revealed: How Manchester City courted Guardiola’s brother to get Pep |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 February 2016 |accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McCormick|first1=Sean|title=The incredible back story of Florian Lejeune's Man City transfer as he joins Newcastle|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-lejeune-man-city-story-13219452|website=Chronicle Live|publisher=Evening Chronicle|accessdate=23 August 2017|date=4 July 2017}}</ref> In August 2018, Girona had two loanees, both 21 years old, from Manchester City.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/45249873</ref>

====Girona C====
In line with the Spanish standard of major teams operating B-teams as development squads for younger players, Girona owns a subsidiary team named simply ''Girona C'', following the incorporation in 2011 of the formerly independent side CF Riudellots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diaridegirona.cat/esports/2011/07/01/girona-compra-riudellots-tindra-filial-segona-catalana/498465.html|title=El Girona compra el Riudellots i tindrà un filial a Segona Catalana|trans-title=Girona buys Riudellots and will have a reserve team in ''Segona Catalana''|publisher=Diari de Girona|language=ca|date=1 July 2011|accessdate=15 August 2015}}</ref> At the time of the purchase of Girona by CFG, the club operated in the Segona Catalana division, the sixth level of football in Spain. Girona additionally operate a primary B-team - CF Peralada-Girona B - although this team is merely in partnership with Girona and neither Girona nor CFG have any ownership stake in the club.

As an official B-team Girona C is ineligible for promotion to a higher division than any other Girona-affiliated side above them in the leagues. Nor is it eligible to play in any cup competition in which Girona themselves already compete.

=== Future clubs ===
When addressed in interviews both internal and external, senior City Football Group personnel have made no secret of their continued plans for the expansion of the group, with group chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak commenting that "I would say that when the opportunity arises - and we are looking at opportunities - you can expect us to add to the number of clubs we have already within that organisation".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-khaldoon-transcript-cfg-11443264 |title=Man City bosses plot further expansion as Khaldoon Al Mubarak assures fans over future |work=Manchester Evening News |date=8 June 2016 |accessdate=8 April 2017 }}</ref> Although those personnel will rarely be drawn on the exact locations in which they are looking, it has been commented that CFG aim at the least to have one team on each continent,<ref name="china"/> with links to a potential Chinese team particularly strong following a £265m investment in the group by two Chinese companies,<ref name="ChinaInvestment"/> while India has been suggested by Tom Glick, the group's chief commercial officer.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hall|first1=Joe|last2=Dalleres|first2=Frank|title=Manchester City parent company eyeing China and India for next clubs, says City Football Group commercial chief Tom Glick|url=http://www.cityam.com/261251/manchester-city-parent-company-eyeing-china-and-india-next|publisher=City A.M.|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref> City Football Group were courted for investment by John Comitis, owner of Cape Town City F.C. and previous engineer of the working relationship between Ajax and Ajax Cape Town,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/cape-town-city-to-play-under-man-city-group-2052011 |title=Cape Town City to play under Man City group? |work=iol.co.za |date=1 August 2016 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref> though CFG themselves did not comment on the link and no such partnership ultimately emerged.

CFG have previously been linked with investment into European sides AS Saint-Étienne,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2950568/Manchester-City-consider-adding-St-Etienne-stable-partner-clubs.html |title=Manchester City consider adding St Etienne to stable of partner clubs as trend of Premier League link-ups continues |work=Daily Mail |date=12 February 2015 |accessdate=8 April 2017 }}</ref> Estoril<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-09/figure-at-center-of-fifa-scandal-selling-team-to-pay-u-s-fines |title=Figure at Center of FIFA Scandal Selling Team to Pay U.S. Fines |work={{wipe|Bloomberg News}} |date=9 September 2015 |accessdate=8 April 2017 }}</ref> and Boavista.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/boavista/noticias/interior/manchester-city-quer-entrar-no-boavista-3659460.html?id=3659460 |title=Manchester City quer entrar no Boavista |language=Portuguese |trans-title=Manchester City to join with Boavista |work=O Jogo |date=30 January 2014 |accessdate=8 April 2017 }}</ref>

It was reported on July 13, 2017 that Ecuadorian Serie A club River Ecuador F.C. had been bought by CFG following the club announcing that they had rebranded as '''Guayaquil City F.C.'''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guayaquil City FC is the first subsidiary of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in South America|url=http://depor.com/futbol-internacional/resto-del-mundo/guayaquil-city-fc-oficializo-primera-filial-manchester-city-sudamerica-42030|publisher=Depor.com|accessdate=17 July 2017|language=es}}</ref> No statement of confirmation was issued by CFG themselves, and after several days the main source advocating the link - MKT Esportivo - deleted their article following a wave of journalists denying the link on social media.

== Honours achieved ==
The following senior-level trophies have been won by City Football Group teams while under the ownership and control of the group:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Team
!width=60 rowspan="2"| Seasons under CFG
! colspan="4"| Domestic
! colspan="2"| Continental
!width=80 rowspan="2 | Total
|-
!width=80 | League
!width=80 | Playoffs series
!width=80 | Cup
!width=80 | Super Cup
!width=80 | Cup
!width=80 | Super Cup
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ESP}} Girona                                     ||  1 ||     0 ||''n/a''||     0 ||     0 ||     0 ||     0 || 0
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ESP}} Girona C                                 ||  1 ||     0 ||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''|| 0
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Manchester City<sup>1</sup>     || 10 ||     3 ||''n/a''||     4 ||     1 ||     0 ||     0 || 8
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Manchester City EDS<sup>2</sup> ||  1 ||''n/a''||''n/a''||     0 ||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''|| 0
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Manchester City Women         ||  4 ||     1 ||''n/a''||     3 ||''n/a''||      0||''n/a''|| 4
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|AUS}} Melbourne City                     ||  4 ||     0 ||     0 ||     1 ||''n/a''||      0||''n/a''|| 1
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|AUS}} Melbourne City NPL             ||  3 ||     0 ||     0 ||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''|| 0
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|AUS}} Melbourne City Women    ||  3 ||     1 ||     3 ||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''||''n/a''|| 4
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|USA}} New York City FC                                     ||  3 ||     0 ||     0 ||     0 ||''n/a''||      0||''n/a''|| 0
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|URU}} C.A. Torque                     ||  1 ||     1 ||     0 ||''n/a''||''n/a''||     0 ||     0 || 1
|-
| align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Yokohama F. Marinos                                  ||  4 ||     0 ||     0 ||     0 ||     0 ||      0||''n/a''|| 0
|}
<sup>1</sup> Includes titles won while under control of City Football Group personnel, but before the creation of the company itself<br>
<sup>2</sup> Although the EDS have operated as Manchester City's reserve team for considerably longer than CFG have owned the club, they only began competing in a senior competition in 2017–18 when they were given a place in the EFL Trophy.

== Affiliated clubs ==

=== Player development/recruitment partners ===
*{{flagicon|NED}} NAC Breda (2016–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-nac-breda-deal-11388338 |title=Revealed: How Man City's partnership with NAC Breda will work |work=Manchester Evening News |date=26 May 2016 |accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref>
:Manchester City have had a series of agreements with clubs to whom they can loan youth players from non-EU countries who otherwise would need to serve five years of residence in the UK to earn an EU passport granting them the ability to play in England without needing a work permit. Primarily the countries of Benelux and Scandinavia are viewed as the shortest way of achieving this.  Following various developments and in the aftermath of Brexit obtaining EU citizenship for players is less relevant to CFG, but CFG retain an active relationship with NAC Breda for the development of youth talents.
*{{flagicon|USA}} Long Island Rough Riders (2016–present)<ref>{{cite news|title=New York City FC Announces Long Island Rough Riders as PDL Affiliate|url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2016/04/21/new-york-city-fc-announces-long-island-rough-riders-pdl-affiliate |accessdate=21 April 2016 | date=21 April 2016 }}</ref>
:NYCFC signed a partnership agreement with Long Island Rough Riders of the Premier Development League in April 2016.
*{{flagicon|USA}} San Antonio FC (2017–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/02/09/nycfc-announce-affiliation-san-antonio-fc |title=NYCFC Announce Affiliation with San Antonio FC |work=nycfc.com |date=February 9, 2017 |accessdate=February 11, 2017}}</ref>
:NYCFC signed an affiliation deal with San Antonio FC of {{wipe|Texas}} in 2017, replacing their previous partnership with the Wilmington Hammerheads.   Their association involves close cooperation on training and player scouting, as well as a league-mandated commitment for at least four players to be loaned to the USL side. 
*{{flagicon|VEN}} Atletico Venezuela (2017–present)<ref name="SouthAmerica" />
:CFG signed a collaboration agreement with Atletico Venezuela of the Venezuelan Primera Division in April 2017. The scouting agreement enabled both parties to share scouting data, and also included the provision of coaching support to Atletico. Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera has signed for Manchester City<ref name="DeadlineDay">{{Cite news |title=Manchester City make surprise double-deadline day signings after swooping for Yangel Herrera and Nabil Touaizi |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/manchester-city-transfer-news-yangel-herrera-nabil-touazi-deadline-day-signings-a7556341.html |publisher=The Independent|date=1 February 2017 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> from Atletico Venezuela and been loaned to New York City FC.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/02/14/yangel-herrera-joins-new-york-city-fc-loan |title=Yangel Herrera Joins New York City FC on Loan |date=14 February 2017 |publisher=NYCFC Official Site}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ESP}} CF Peralada-Girona B (2017–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/girona/2017/07/23/5974be0a468aebb3518b45fe.html |title=El CF Peralada aprueba el cambio de nombre |trans-title=CF Peralada approves name change |language=Spanish |work=Marca |date=23 July 2017 |accessdate=23 July 2017}}</ref>
:Shortly before CFG bought a stake in Girona FC, Peralada - who had previously signed a five-year partnership to become a development feeder for Girona - formalised their status with their parent club to become an official B-team, and renamed themselves by adding ''-Girona B'' to their club name. However, Girona owns no part of the club and their relationship extends no further than their co-operation agreement.

=== Mutual co-operation partners ===
*{{flagicon|GHA}} Ghana FA (2013–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/exclusive-ghana-coach-kwesi-appiah-pay-learning-visit-manchester-city/ |title=Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah to pay a learning visit to Manchester City |work=GhanaSoccernet.com |date=6 March 2014 |accessdate=18 July 2014}}</ref>
:CFG have a partnership with the Ghanaian FA whereby each season their respective technical staff pool knowledge related to training players.

=== Overseas academies ===
*{{flagicon|GHA}} Right to Dream Academy (late 2000s–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arringtontrainingdevelopment.com/news/2014/2/9/right-to-dream-academy-ghana-hosts-arrington-training-development |title=RIGHT TO DREAM ACADEMY (GHANA) HOSTS ARRINGTON TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT |work=arringtontrainingdevelopment.com |date=9 February 2014 |accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.artefactmagazine.com/2016/01/27/right-to-dream-the-pride-of-west-africa/ |title=RIGHT TO DREAM: THE PRIDE OF WEST AFRICA |work=artefactmagazine.com |date=27 January 2016 |accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref>
:City Football Group have a partnership with the Right to Dream Academy which allows them to cherry-pick the best talent from the academy once players graduate.

=== Defunct partnerships ===
*{{flagicon|USA}} Wilmington Hammerheads (2015–2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2015/01/16/nycfc-announce-affiliation-wilmington-hammerheads |title=NYCFC Announce Affiliation with Wilmington Hammerheads |work=nycfc.com |date=January 16, 2015 |accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nycfc.com/post/2016/02/04/new-york-city-fc-announces-extension-wilmington-hammerheads-fc |title=New York City FC Announces extension with Wilmington Hammerheads FC |work=nycfc.com |date=February 4, 2016 |accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref>
:As a condition for their continuing existence in Major League Soccer, New York City FC along with all MLS clubs are expected to either affiliate with or own and operate a club competing in the United Soccer League. Rather than opting to field their own B-team, NYCFC signed an affiliation deal with Wilmington Hammerheads of North Carolina.  The affiliation was extended for the 2016 season, and ended when the Hammerheads self-relegated to the amateur Premier Development League on September 29, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uslpdl.com/news_article/show/703401?referrer_id=2242498|title=Wilmington Hammerheads FC Awarded PDL Franchise|publisher=Premier Development League (PDL)|date=September 29, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref>

==Principles and interests==
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===''The City Way''===
Mirroring CFG's dedication to an identifiable cross-club brand via similar kits is the principle of ''the City Way'', a concept whereby all teams which play under their banner, regardless of continent or competition, can be seen to play according to a prototype style based on passing, possession and attacking philosophy<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32631229 |title=New York derby: 'A spectacle unlike anything we've seen' |work=BBC Sport |date=May 10, 2015 |accessdate=April 8, 2017}}</ref> largely derived from the tactics used by Barcelona when under the control of now-Manchester City trio Pep Guardiola, Ferran Soriano and Txiki Beguiristain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2012/11/11/3520141/manchester-city-escape-like-champions-as-winning-will-saves |title=Manchester City escape like champions as winning will saves Mancini again |work=goal.com |date=11 November 2012 |accessdate=8 April 2017 }}</ref> While ''the City Way'' has come to be understood to include a high press and rapid counter-attacks, it has also come to be characterised - particularly in the media - by an implicit acknowledgement that attacking proficiency usually comes at the expense of a somewhat unreliable defence, partly due to the circumstantial failings of the senior sides in Manchester, New York and Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/mar/18/mls-weekend-previews-new-york-city-fc |title=MLS weekend preview: have NYC FC finally learned 'the City way'? |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=March 18, 2016 |accessdate=April 8, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-city-vs-manchester-united-manuel-pellegrini-rues-missing-out-on-angel-di-maria-9832386.html |title=Manchester City vs Manchester United: Manuel Pellegrini rues missing out on signing Angel Di Maria |work=The Independent |date=31 October 2014 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref>

An additional key aspect of ''the City Way'' is its universal application, with not only the various CFG first teams following it but also women's teams as well as academy sides down to the lowest levels.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mcwfc/2017/04/07/carli-lloyd-loving-life-at-man-city-women/1491581018727 |title=CARLI LLOYD LOVING CITY LIFE |work=mcfc.co.uk |date=7 April 2017 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2717240/Patrick-Vieira-building-bright-future-Manchester-City-core-group-English-players.html |title=Patrick Vieira is building a bright future at Manchester City... with a core group of English players |work=Daily Mail |date=5 August 2014 |accessdate=8 April 2017}}</ref>

<div class="thumb tright">
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin:0"
|-
!scope="col" style="width:125px"|Team
!scope="col" style="width:300px"|Player
!scope="col" style="width:75px"|Console
!scope="col" style="width:25px"|From
!scope="col" style="width:25px"|To
|-
|rowspan="3"|Manchester City
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Kieran ''"Kez"'' Brown
|[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]
|2016
|2018
|-
|{{flagicon|DEN}} Marcus ''"ExpectSporting"'' Jorgensen
|PS4
|2017
|
|-
|{{flagicon|DEU}} Kai ''"Deto"'' Wollin
|PS4
|2018
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Melbourne City
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Marcus ''"SoccerStar007777"'' Gomes
|[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]
|2017
|
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Josh ''"joshingwood"'' Wood
|PS4
|2018
|2018
|-
|rowspan="2"|New York City
|{{flagicon|USA}} Christopher ''"NYC_Chris"'' Holly
|PS4
|2017
|
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} Joseph ''"Joey"'' Calabro
|[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]
|2017
|2018
|}
</div>

===eSports===
Looking to capitalise on the growth of eSports and for City Football Group to be seen as always being at the forefront of innovation, CFG made their first venture into digital gaming by signing Kieran "''Kez''" Brown to represent Manchester City at FIFA tournaments and fan events as well as to make digital content for their social media profiles, in June 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36734518 |title=Manchester City sign first e-sports player |work=BBC Sports |date=7 July 2016 |accessdate=7 April 2017 }}</ref>

Today, Manchester City is represented by former PlayStation 4 World Champion Kai 'deto' Wollin, alongside FeWC 2018 semi-finalist Marcus 'Marcuzo' Jorgensen.

In April 2017, New York City FC signed its first professional FIFA player in Christopher "''NYC_Chris''" Holly, who became the first FIFA player signed to represent a Major League Soccer club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/04/05/christopher-holly-joins-nycfc-esports-representative |title=Christopher Holly Joins NYCFC as eSports Representative |work=nycfc.com |date=April 5, 2017 |accessdate=April 7, 2017 }}</ref> Similarly, Melbourne City became the first team in the A-League to acquire a professional FIFA player, signing Marcus "''marcus_7170''" Gomes in August of the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/city-sign-a-leagues-first-fifa-esports-player/18o65jodw50eb1hw78ihqltlhe |title=City sign A-League’s first FIFA eSports player |work=melbournecityfc.com.au |date=15 August 2017 |accessdate=15 August 2017 }}</ref>

==See also==
* Manchester City F.C. ownership and finances
* Abu Dhabi United Group
* China Media Capital
* CITIC Group

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}


[[Category:Holding companies]]
[[Category:Companies (Finance)]]
[[Category:Companies]]

{{Sourceattribution|City Football Group|1}}