In June 2023, Pep Guardiola stood on the pitch of Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium, surrounded by his players, who held the Champions League trophy aloft following their 1-0 victory over Inter Milan. On that historic evening, Manchester City clinched the treble, becoming only the second English men's team in history to collect the three major trophies in a season, following Manchester United in 1999. It seemed this triumph laid the groundwork for years of domination across Europe.
However, that iconic snapshot from Istanbul quickly faded into history. Just three years later, that great team has virtually ceased to exist.
The geography of disbandment: where the treble creators ended up
The scale of the transformation within the squad over three seasons is staggering, with key players making moves across the globe:
- Pep Guardiola concluded his decade-long tenure at the club, having secured 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
- Rodri, whose decisive strike brought the club victory in the Champions League final, moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2026.
- Kevin De Bruyne, following a decade in Manchester, joined Napoli.
- Bernardo Silva, after nine years with the Citizens, transferred to Real Madrid.
- John Stones, who excelled in a hybrid role during the treble-winning season, became a player for Inter Milan—the very team they faced in that Istanbul final.
- Ederson and Nathan Ake moved to the Turkish league, boosting Fenerbahce's ranks.
- Ilkay Gundogan, the captain of that triumphant squad, now dons the colours of Galatasaray.
- Kyle Walker, after a loan spell with AC Milan, found himself at Burnley.
- Julian Alvarez plays for Atletico Madrid, Aymeric Laporte returned to Athletic Bilbao, Riyad Mahrez left Saudi Arabia, and Joao Cancelo ended up at Barcelona after loans with Bayern Munich and Al-Hilal.
- Cole Palmer has emerged as an undisputed leader at Chelsea.
- Txiki Begiristain, who built the team alongside Guardiola for 13 years as sporting director, stepped down, making way for Hugo Viana.
Tactical masterpiece of the 2022/23 season: Erling Haaland's introduction and the 3-2-4-1 formation
The 2022/23 season marked the pinnacle of Pep Guardiola's tactical prowess. The arrival of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund necessitated a complete overhaul of the attack, which had functioned without a traditional striker since Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus departed.
The Norwegian hit a historical run, netting 52 goals in 53 matches (including 36 in the Premier League and 12 in the Champions League), while the team scored a staggering 151 goals across all competitions. However, the pivotal decision was to adjust the structure behind him. Guardiola avoided asking Haaland to fill the 'false nine' role and instead restructured the midfield.
John Stones began shifting from centre-back to central midfield alongside Rodri, creating a 3-2-4-1 formation. This freed up De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva to create in the wide areas, allowing Jack Grealish to stretch the defence down the left flank, while Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake formed an impenetrable foundation at the back.
The path through Arsenal and European triumph
The victory did not come easily. For much of the season, Arsenal led the league table, while sceptics doubted the balance of the revamped City after losses to Liverpool in the Community Shield and dropped points against Newcastle and Aston Villa. The turning point came in the spring: a resounding 4-1 thrashing of the Gunners at the Etihad effectively settled the title race, which Guardiola's side concluded with 89 points, securing a fifth title in six years.
In the Champions League, the Citizens broke a long-standing curse. They dispatched RB Leipzig with a Haaland hat-trick and humbled Bayern Munich (4-1 on aggregate), before crushing Real Madrid 4-0 at home in the semi-finals, ultimately overcoming Inter Milan in a nail-biting final.
Gradual dismantling and a new reality
Remarkably, the disbandment began without a sharp on-pitch crisis. In the 2023/24 season, the club won a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
However, a critical breakdown emerged during the 2024/25 campaign, when Rodri's severe injury laid bare the reliance on seasoned veterans. Amidst the decline in form of the senior leaders, the team suffered a series of five consecutive defeats—the first of its kind in Guardiola's career—finishing third with 71 points.
As the 2026/27 season kicks off, only Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and Rico Lewis remain as a bridge between the legendary treble-winning side and the present. Under the stewardship of Enzo Maresca, Manchester City now embarks on the journey of building a new team. But the ideal footballing machine of 2023 has officially become a tale of the past.
