On May 29th, Sergio Agüero stepped on the pitch one last time for Manchester City in the Champions League finals against Chelsea. Often the author of some of the most magical stories in football, it was not to be on his last outing as Chelsea lifted the trophy for the second time in their history.
Agüero’s legacy, however, remains the same; of a player who not only hit the ground running with his debut, but was one of the most feared strikers the English game had ever seen. In a league where many South American players have a difficult time finding their feet, Agüero was its greatest ever scorer.
Off the Bench and Off to the Races
Coming on the heels of his best season at Atletico Madrid in which he scored 20 league goals, there was lots of excitement at Manchester City for what Agüero would bring to the table.
The record signing at the time made his Premier League debut on 15 August, 2011, scoring two goals and assisting David Silva to a comfortable 4-0 win over Swansea City. It’s widely regarded as the greatest debut in English football.
It’s safe to say that Agüero justified his price tag in just his first season with the Citizens. He scored 23 goals and finished third in the top scorer list and turned provider for 8 more. However, it was his heroic effort on the final match day that would cement his name in the hearts of Manchester City fans forever.
Agüeroooooooooo
32 games into the season and Manchester City were trailing Manchester United by eight points. Five straight victories helped City get into the final match day with a lead on goal difference. City were battling the relegation-threatened QPR whereas United were against Sunderland.
United won the game 1-0 and heading into extra time, City were down 2-1. It seemed that the nail-biting finale to the season would see United winning the title yet again. However, with a Dzeko equaliser, there was a glimmer of hope, a chance to make history.
In what was the last play of the game, Agüero received the ball from Balotelli and shot it powerfully into the corner to seal the victory and hand Manchester City their first Premier League title. The Blues went into a frenzy, whereas silence ensued on the red side of Manchester. The boy who came to Manchester a year ago became a man who etched his name in the history of football.
A Decade of Dominance
Agüero was named the Manchester City player of the year in his first season with the club, but most importantly, he became a champion. In the years that followed, Agüero would help the Citizens capture 4 more Premier League titles, 6 League Cups, and an FA Cup.
In his 389 appearances with the club, Agüero scored 260 goals and many of them came when it mattered the most. He was as clinical in front of goal as he was elegant when dishing them out.
Heading into the final season of his contract, Agüero suffered a meniscus injury which caused him to miss a lot of action. In perhaps a moment of history repeating itself, in his final appearance, he came off the bench and scored two goals to cap his legendary career in the Premier League.
Agüero’s career is far from over, but his time with Manchester City has come to an end. His arrival changed the mentality of the club. No longer were they the rich kids that could buy the best. Manchester City could now prove that they were the best club in English football and Agüero was their chief marksman.
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