# 2000–01 Manchester City F.C. season

The 2000–01 season was Manchester City Football Club's 109th season playing in a division of English football, most of which have been spent in the top flight. The club spent this season playing in the Premier League after winning successive promotions from the Second Division and First Division in the previous two seasons. This was the club's fifth season playing in the Premier League since its initial formation as the top tier of English football eight years earlier, with Manchester City as one of its original 22 founding member clubs.

## Season review

Manchester City's return to the Premiership after a four-year exile was the result of back-to-back promotions from the Second Division. But perhaps the team's two-tier climb back to the top flight again had been a little too rapid because it became apparent after just a few games into the new season that Joe Royle's men would be struggling to hang on to their newly acquired top flight status. After their first ten games though, they were enjoying reasonably stable mid-table form with four wins and defeats each; however, after a 5–0 humbling at Arsenal, it all went wrong and only four wins were achieved during the remainder of the season.
The team's relegation was confirmed by a defeat in the penultimate game of the season, and manager Royle, who had been the guiding hand that had brought the team so quickly back to the Premiership from the Second Division, was dismissed within days. Former England coach Kevin Keegan was appointed to replace Royle on a three-year contract and fans were given renewed hope of an immediate return to the elite.

## Team kit

The team kit was produced by Le Coq Sportif and the shirt sponsor was Eidos Interactive.
| Home | Home alt. | Home alt. 2 | Away | Third |

## Historical league performance

Prior to this season, the history of Manchester City's performance in the English football league hierarchy since the creation of the Premier League in 1992 is summarised by the following timeline chart – which commences with the last season (1991–92) of the old Football League First Division (from which the Premier League was formed).

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 16 | Everton | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 45 | 59 | −14 | 42 | |
| 17 | Derby County | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 37 | 59 | −22 | 42 | |
| 18 | Manchester City (R) | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 41 | 65 | −24 | 34 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |
| 19 | Coventry City (R) | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 36 | 63 | −27 | 34 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |
| 20 | Bradford City (R) | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 30 | 70 | −40 | 26 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: 2000–01 FA Premier League table

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | W | L | W | L | D | D | L | W | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | W | D | L | D | L | D | L | D | D | D | L | W | L | D | L | L | L | W | D | W | L | L |
| Position | 20 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 |

## Results

Manchester City's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### League Cup
## First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Nicky Weaver |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Richard Edghill |
| 4 | MF | NED | Gerard Wiekens |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Andy Morrison |
| 6 | MF | NIR | Kevin Horlock |
| 7 | DF | ENG | Spencer Prior |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Paul Dickov |
| 10 | FW | BER | Shaun Goater |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Terry Cooke |
| 12 | MF | RUS | Andrei Kanchelskis (on loan from Rangers) |
| 14 | FW | WAL | Gareth Taylor |
| 15 | DF | NOR | Alfie Haaland (captain) |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Paul Ritchie |
| 17 | MF | NIR | Jim Whitley |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Jeff Whitley |
| 19 | MF | AUS | Danny Tiatto |
| 20 | GK | ENG | Carlo Nash |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Darren Huckerby |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | DF | IRL | Richard Dunne |
| 23 | FW | CRC | Paulo Wanchope |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Steve Howey |
| 26 | GK | IRL | Richard McKinney |
| 27 | FW | NOR | Egil Østenstad (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Tony Grant |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Shaun Wright-Phillips |
| 30 | GK | ENG | Steven Hodgson |
| 31 | DF | FRA | Laurent Charvet |
| 32 | FW | ENG | Leon Mike |
| 33 | FW | NZL | Chris Killen |
| 34 | MF | IRL | Mark Kennedy |
| 35 | GK | IRL | Brian Murphy |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Danny Granville |
| 37 | MF | CAN | Terry Dunfield |
| 38 | DF | WAL | Rhys Day |
| 39 | MF | NGA | Dickson Etuhu |
| 40 | MF | ENG | Chris Shuker |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Lee Crooks (on loan to Northampton Town; to Barnsley) |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Ian Bishop (to Miami Fusion) |
| 12 | FW | AUS | Daniel Allsopp (to Notts County) |
| 13 | GK | NIR | Tommy Wright (to Bolton Wanderers) |
| 20 | MF | SCO | Gary Mason (to Dunfermline Athletic) |
| 21 | DF | ENG | Nick Fenton (to Notts County) |
| 22 | FW | LBR | George Weah (to Marseille) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Richard Jobson (to Tranmere Rovers) |
| 27 | DF | IRL | Shaun Holmes (released) |
| 31 | MF | ENG | David Laycock (released) |
| 33 | FW | NZL | Chris Killen (on loan to Wrexham) |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Danny Granville (on loan to Norwich City) |
| 37 | FW | ENG | Robert Taylor (to Wolverhampton Wanderers) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | DF | ENG | Stephen Jordan |
| - | DF | IRL | Paddy McCarthy |
| - | DF | ENG | Tyrone Mears |
| - | MF | GER | Dino Toppmöller |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | MF | IRL | Glenn Whelan |
| - | DF | ENG | Darren (Dazzler) Garfield |
| - | MF | ENG | Andrew Tunnicliffe |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Nicky Weaver | 39 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | ENG | Carlo Nash | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | ENG | Richard Edghill | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | NED | Gerard Wiekens | 41 | 2 | 29+5 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Andy Morrison | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | DF | ENG | Spencer Prior | 28 | 1 | 18+3 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | NOR | Alfie Haaland | 43 | 3 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Paul Ritchie | 16 | 0 | 11+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | IRL | Richard Dunne | 28 | 0 | 24+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Steve Howey | 39 | 6 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | FRA | Laurent Charvet | 21 | 0 | 16+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Danny Granville | 25 | 0 | 16+3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | NIR | Kevin Horlock | 18 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | RUS | Andrei Kanchelskis | 11 | 1 | 7+3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Jeff Whitley | 37 | 1 | 28+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | AUS | Danny Tiatto | 39 | 2 | 31+2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Tony Grant | 12 | 0 | 5+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Shaun Wright-Phillips | 19 | 0 | 9+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | IRL | Mark Kennedy | 30 | 1 | 15+10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+4 | 1 |
| 37 | MF | CAN | Terry Dunfield | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | SCO | Paul Dickov | 25 | 5 | 15+6 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | BER | Shaun Goater | 32 | 11 | 20+6 | 6 | 2+1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Darren Huckerby | 16 | 2 | 8+5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | CRC | Paulo Wanchope | 31 | 10 | 25+2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 27 | FW | NOR | Egil Østenstad | 4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred out during the season ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | ENG | Lee Crooks | 4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Ian Bishop | 16 | 0 | 3+7 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | AUS | Danny Allsopp | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | NIR | Tommy Wright | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | LBR | George Weah | 9 | 4 | 5+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Richard Jobson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
Last updated: 19 May 2001 Source: Competitions

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
| No. | Pos. | Name | MS |
| 1 | GK | Nicky Weaver | 39 |
| 37 | RB | Laurent Charvet | 16 |
| 24 | CB | Steve Howey | 39 |
| 22 | CB | Richard Dunne | 27 |
| 36 | LB | Danny Granville | 19 |
| 19 | RM | Danny Tiatto | 37 |
| 4 | CM | Gerard Wiekens | 34 |
| 15 | CM | Alfie Haaland | 43 |
| 18 | LM | Jeff Whitley | 34 |
| 10 | CF | Shaun Goater | 25 |
| 23 | CF | Paulo Wanchope | 25 |

## Transfers
### In

* Alfie Haaland – Leeds United, 12 June, £2,500,000
* George Weah – Milan, 1 August, free
* Paulo Wanchope – West Ham United, 8 August, £3,650,000
* Steve Howey – Newcastle United, 11 August, £2,000,000 (rising to £3,000,000 depending on appearances)
* Paul Ritchie – Rangers, 21 August, £500,000
* Richard Dunne – Everton, 16 October, £3,000,000
* Laurent Charvet – Newcastle United, 25 October, £1,000,000 (rising to £1,500,000 depending on appearances)
* Darren Huckerby – Leeds United, 29 December, £2,500,000
* Carlo Nash – Stockport County, 11 January, £100,000
* Andrei Kanchelskis – Rangers, 25 January, three-month loan
* Egil Østenstad – Blackburn Rovers, 5 February, two-month loan

### Out

* Craig Russell – St Johnstone, 11 July, free
* Lee Peacock – Bristol City, 9 August, £600,000
* Jamie Pollock – Crystal Palace, 11 August, £75,000
* Robert Taylor – Wolverhampton Wanderers, 15 August, £1,550,000
* George Weah – released, 16 October (later joined Marseille on 18 October)
* Nick Fenton – Notts County, 9 November, £150,000
* Gary Mason – Dunfermline Athletic, 15 December, free
* Ian Bishop – Miami Fusion, 28 February, undisclosed
* Lee Crooks – Barnsley, 2 March, undisclosed
* Tommy Wright – Bolton Wanderers, 22 March, free
* Gareth Taylor – Burnley, 22 March, loan
* Chris Shuker – Macclesfield Town, 22 March, loan
* Andy Morrison – Sheffield United, 22 March, loan
* Lee Crooks – Northampton Town, December, loan
* Daniel Allsopp – Notts County, December, £300,000
* Richard Jobson – Tranmere Rovers
* Shaun Holmes – released
* David Laycock – released
* Chris Killen – Wrexham, loan
* Danny Granville – Norwich City, October, loan
* Terry Cooke – Sheffield Wednesday, loan