In the past decade, Manchester City have had a plethora of world-class players who have lit English football up.
Whether it be under Pep Guardiola, Manuel Pellegrini or Roberto Mancini, several City players have shone while also winning major silverware.
Out of the retired Manchester City players, the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho stand out amongst others.
However, other names include Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ederson Moraes and John Stones — who have consistently been tremendous.
In the past decade, no team won more league titles than the Sky Blues (four).
The English giants’ dominance has continued in the 2020s as well — winning four out of the five titles that have been lifted this decade.
Kevin De Bruyne named the 2010’s best Premier League player
Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland have been especially prominent this decade.
But the quartet were either not at the club or as prominent during the last decade.
De Bruyne certainly was, having signed for City in 2015 and according to both Roy Keane and Ian Wright on The Overlap’s Stick To Football show, he was the best player in the Premier League in the past decade.
Keane said: “No hesitation. Goals, assists, titles.”
Wright agreed: “I’ll go [Kevin] De Bruyne, I’ll go De Bruyne, of course.”
Here are De Bruyne’s goals, assists and league titles won for Manchester City in the English top-flight by 2020.
| APPEARANCES | GOALS | ASSISTS | TITLES WON |
| 152 | 36 | 65 | 2 |
Despite not being a forward, the Belgian registered a staggering 101 goal involvements in 152 league appearances for City in five seasons.
Ian Wright and Roy Keane lauded De Bruyne amidst Messi parallel
Ian Wright likened the 33-year-old to Lionel Messi after his match-winning impact in Manchester City’s 3-2 win against Newcastle United last season.
Wright told Premier League Productions: “Like you [journalist Darren Lewis] say, just like Messi, they [great players] give you joy. When you watch Kevin De Bruyne play, you feel joy.”
In March, Roy Keane hailed De Bruyne as one of the greatest players to have ever played in the Premier League as well.
“De Bruyne is one of the best players to ever play in the Premier League. If [Erling] Haaland makes the right runs, he will find him.”
The midfield maestro dominated the Premier League in the past decade and he will be looking to prolong his ascendancy as arguably the division’s best player by emerging as City’s go-to man this season.
