Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes Manchester City have now fulfilled the vision that owner Sheikh Mansour set out for the club in 2008.
2021 was another challenging year for football as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to cause havoc in the world, yet City managed to make the most of it as they claimed their third Premier League title in five years and reached their first Champions League final, even if it did end in defeat.
The club announced that their annual revenue has increased over the last year by 19 per cent to £569.8million, with a profit of £2.4m being made.
Reflecting on 2021, Khaldoon said: "Ten seasons before this one, Manchester City won its first major trophy in 35 years and qualified for the Champions League for the very first time. A decade on, and our men’s team is distinguished in England by having qualified for the competition every year since.
"And so, while disappointment at the defeat in the final in Porto ran undeniably deep, we were incredibly proud to have reached it in the first place. We look ahead with the knowledge that we are going to come back stronger and more experienced, knowing that we have reached not only that benchmark but also a level of consistency which gives us great confidence for the future.
"The success of our men’s first team – this year’s trophies represent our fifth Premier League title and sixth League Cup of the last decade – is our story today. Our story tomorrow will be written by the next generation, who made history this year when the EDS and U18 teams won their respective leagues, meaning Manchester City hold the titles at all three levels of the men’s game.
"His Highness Sheikh Mansour’s vision, set in 2008, is the reality we are living thirteen years later – we are a sustainable and socially responsible organisation, finding and developing talent and competing for trophies on both the domestic and European stage.
"It is the results of that vision that gave us the confidence a year ago to state an intended return to profitability in our second season impacted by COVID-19, even in a season played without fans.
"Despite the many unknowns in the evolving global pandemic, we knew then that was a realistic objective, thanks in large part to the impact of our long-term strategy to diversify and globalise our revenues; our ability to depend on excellent football performance; and the support of our partners and shareholders.
"We have been able to continue our forward momentum across City Football Group, last year celebrating the acquisition of new clubs, and this year enjoying on-field success throughout the group, as our teams in India, Australia and France won their respective leagues."
Chairman Ferran Soriano also spoke glowingly of the previous year.
"This was a very special season," he wrote.
"There was a moment in November 2020 when Manchester City sat in the 13th position in the Premier League table - our lowest position for some years. With the start of the season delayed following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, games were coming at a relentless pace.
"Everybody was physically tired, but you could sense the focus and the resolve of the team and the togetherness of the whole Club. It was by harnessing that togetherness, that the team pulled themselves up from that point and went on to have one of the best seasons in Manchester City’s history.
"The season closed with the team having played 63 out of a maximum possible 64 matches, taking home the Premier League title, winning a record-equalling eight League Cups, reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time and breaking a raft of records in the process. This is not a Club that gives up when the going gets tough.
"The success we tasted went beyond our first team. Manchester City became the first club in history to win the Premier League, the Premier League 2 title, and the Under-18 Premier League National title in the same year, highlighting a bright future for our younger players. Our women’s team did not quite scale the heights of past seasons, narrowly missing out on the WSL title on the last matchday of the season, having secured their highest ever points tally and with a record-breaking unbeaten run of 12 games."
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this s eason.
