“It’s finished at Sunderland, Manchester United have done all they can, that Rooney goal was enough for the three points…
Manchester City are still alive here. . . Balotelli. . . AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOO. . .
I swear you’ll never see anything like this ever again. . .
So watch it. . .
Drink it in. . .
They’ve just heard the news at the Stadium of Light. Two goals in added time for Manchester City, to snatch the title away from Manchester United.”
I’m not even a Manchester City fan, and yet the way Martin Tyler roars Sergio Aguero’s name as he slots home the goal to win the Premier League title… it sends a shiver down my spine. There are a number of contenders for the GOAT title at Manchester City, but none more deserving than the Argentine who produced one of the most iconic moments in the history of English football.
Aguero Breaks out at Independiente
Sergio Aguero has been a professional football player for over 15 years… that’s right, over 15 years. The man is only 30 years old. He made his professional debut, for one of the best teams in Argentina, at just 15 years old – breaking Diego Maradona’s long standing record as the youngest player in the league.
It wasn’t til the 2004-05 season that Aguero began to see regular first team football, netting himself five goals in 12 appearances. Not a bad return for a 17 year old. The following season was his real breakout year, as he went on to bag 18 goals in 36 games, cementing himself as one of the best young strikers in the world.
Aguero announced on live TV that he would be leaving Independiente at the end of the 2004-05 season, as speculation began to run rife, a strong link became apparently with Atletico Madrid… an emotional Aguero waved goodbye to the Independiente fans with a tear in his eye as he began the next step of his career.
Established in Madrid
After breaking onto the scene with his hometown club, the clinical young Argentine moved to the Spanish capital looking to establish himself as one of the best strikers in the world. He was just The 18 year old would be utilised as a backup for Fernando Torres throughout the majority of his first season with the club, however after the sale of the Spanish striker to Liverpool, Aguero went on to become the Rojoblancos most important player. In the 2009-10 season Aguero would win his first silverware, helping push Atleti to victory in the UEFA Europa League, as well as the UEFA Super Cup the following season.
Despite picking up these trophies, being named vice captain of the club, and hammering in 74 La Liga goals, Aguero became unhappy in Madrid. A failure to celebrate any of the goals in his first professional hattrick was a sign of things to come, as at the end of the season Aguero would ask for his release, and the same day secure a move to…
Manchester City, Premier League Champion, and THAT goal
After signing for City, and collecting the number 16 shirt, Aguero made his Premier League debut against Swansea City. An impressive debut at that… just a sign of things to come, really.
The Argentine came on as a substitute in the 59th minute, taking only nine minutes to net his first goal for City, and the first of many in the Premier League. Not long after this he picked up an assist, before rounding the game out with his second goal. A performance many pundits have gone on to call one of the most impressive debuts in the history of the league.
It didn’t take long for Aguero to hit his stride, going on to score 23 goals in 34 Premier League games, and a total of 30 goals in all competitions. It was this influx of goals, and the purely clinical nature of their new star striker that finally pushed City over the edge. In a fierce title race which came down to the last day of the season, Sergio Aguero sealed his place in the Premier League history books, and the hearts of Manchester City fans, by scoring the goal that won them their first league title in 44 years.
Not only was it an iconic moment, Manchester City edging out Manchester United to the league title, but it also held more drama than any fan could ever ask for. It is possibly the single greatest moment in Premier League history, and it’s something that will always be synonymous with Aguero… though he has done so, so much more.
Records, Goals, Titles, Cups… and injuries
In his almost 8 years at City, Sergio Aguero has won pretty much everything there is to win in English football. While the FA Cup has so far eluded him, he is a; three time Premier League champion, three time League Cup winner, and two time Community Shield winner. It has been the most prolific trophy winning spell in the clubs history, and Aguero is one of very few players that has maintained his place in the team from their first title win to their latest.
Aguero is also the holder of a vast number of club records for goalscoring, as well as being one of the top scorers in Premier League history. The only thing that has slowed him down is his injury issues. Aguero has missed game time due to injury in almost, if not every, season that he has played for Manchester City. However, worryingly for the competition, he seems to only be getting better with age. This season Aguero is on track to have one of the more prolific seasons of his career. At the time of writing he is on 17 goals, tied with Mohamed Salah for the most in the league this season, however he boasts a much more impressive minutes per goal ratio – on average scoring a goal every 99 minutes to Salah’s 130. He has also scored his 17 goals in around 500 minutes less. If City go on to win the league this season, Aguero will join players such as Diego Drogba and Eric Cantona as a four time champion of England. Certainly illustrious company.
It’s difficult to put into words just how good Sergio Aguero is. Or how important to Manchester City he is, both now and in the past. He is the most important player in the history of the club, and it could be a very long time before anyone challenges him for the right to sit on that throne. But to try and do him as much justice as possible… here is a list of his accolades and honours as a City player:
- Premier League Champion (x3)
- EFL Cup winner (x3)
- FA Community Shield winner (x2)
- Manchester City Player of the Year (x2)
- Manchester City Goal of the Season
- Premier League Player of the Month (x5)
- PFA Team of the Year
- FIFPro World XI 3rd Team (x3)
- FIFPro World XI 4th Team
- Premier League Golden Boot
Records he holds for Manchester City:
- All time top scorer
- Most goals scored in European competitions
- Most goals scored in First Division/Premier League
- Most goals scored in one Premier League season
- Most goals scored in one UEFA Champions League season
- Most goals scored in one Premier League match
And here is a list of all honours away outside of Manchester:
- UEFA Europa League
- UEFA Super Cup
- Olympic Gold Medal (Argentina Youth)
- UEFA U-20 World Cup
- South American Team of the Year
- FIFA Young Player of the Year
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Shoe
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball
- La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year
- Don Balon Award
- Tuttosport Golden Boy
- World Soccer Young Player of the Year
“They’re all cuddling each other, they’ve got love bites and everythin’.”
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