Who Would Win Manchester City’s Trophies if Stripped of Titles?

September 28, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor News

Manchester City faces potential sanctions after reports indicated that an independent panel upheld 114 of 115 Premier League charges against the club. While no punishment has been announced and the process is far from over with an expected appeal, the situation raises questions about who could receive Manchester City’s trophies if titles are stripped and reassigned.

Stoke City and the 2011 FA Cup

Stoke City finished as runners-up when Manchester City won the 2011 FA Cup with a 1-0 victory at Wembley thanks to a decisive goal by Yaya Toure. Following the news, former Stoke manager Tony Pulis wrote in a BBC column that he feels cheated and asked, When do we get our FA Cup? Pulis stated, I don’t expect Manchester city to offer back the 2011 FA Cup and the winners’ medals their players received. He added that he believes a points deduction and a massive fine are far more likely than other trophies and titles being handed back over.

Runners-Up Across Premier League and League Cup Seasons

Several other clubs served as runners-up during Manchester City’s trophy wins:

  • 2011/12 Premier League: Manchester City won the title on goal difference over Manchester United in the final seconds of the season following Sergio Aguero’s stoppage-time goal against QPR.
  • 2013/14 League Cup: City defeated Sunderland 3-1 with goals from Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, and Jesus Navas.
  • 2013/14 Premier League: Liverpool finished as runners-up in a title race defined by Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea.
  • 2016 League Cup: City beat Liverpool in a penalty shootout after Willy Caballero saved shots from Lucas Leiva, Adam Lallana, and Philippe Coutinho.
  • 2018 League Cup: City secured a 3-0 victory against Arsenal with goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, and David Silva.
  • 2017/18 Premier League: City reached 100 points to win the title, leaving Manchester United as distant runners-up under manager Jose Mourinho. In 2024, Mourinho suggested he could retrospectively claim the title and said, maybe they punish Man City with points and maybe we win that league and then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.

Worth a look

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