Manchester City's record in FA Cup finals

City will play their 16th FA Cup final this year.

In the FA Cup, Manchester City have seen short spurts of success as opposed to other domestic cup success.

Over the course of nearly a century of the oldest football competition in existence, the Sky Blues have made it to the finals three times in three distinct decades.

Despite leading Manchester City to a historic four Premier League wins in a row, Pep Guardiola was frequently denied a spot in the final, as the team notoriously lost three straight semi-finals from 2020 to 2022.

Manchester United, City’s opponents from the 1960s, were the last team to continuously falter at that point in the campaign. In recent years, the Catalan coach has experienced greater happiness. A closer look at the team’s FA Cup finals history is provided below.

13. Manchester City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers: 1903/04

The final, which took place for the 33rd time, was the first to feature both City and two Lancashire-based teams.

With wins over Sunderland, Woolwich Arsenal, Middlesbrough, and league winners The Wednesday, City advanced to face Crystal Palace, which was holding the famous event for the tenth year at the time.

Billy Meredith, the captain, scored the game’s lone goal to secure both City’s and his first big victory. Meredith had a stellar career representing both Manchester United and City.

12. Bolton 1-0 Manchester City: 1925/26

On April 24, 1926, Bolton Wanderers and City played the final at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City were second last in the table, while Bolton Wanderers were in the top five. As a result, Bolton started the game as the favourite and prevailed thanks to a goal from David Jack.

11. Everton 3-0 Manchester City: 1932/33

Everton and City played football in the 1933 FA Cup final on April 29, 1933, at London’s Wembley Stadium.

To get to the final, each team had to advance through five rounds. With goals from James Dunn, Dixie Dean, and Jimmy Stein, Everton won the match 3-0 and took home the trophy for the first time since 1906.

10. Manchester City 2-1 Portsmouth: 1933/34

In 1923, the year City relocated from Hyde Road to Maine Road, the final was moved to Wembley.

By defeating Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, and Aston Villa, City advanced to the championship game. In contrast, their opponents, who were also in the First Division, came to Wembley after defeating Manchester United, Grimsby Town, Swansea Town, Bolton, and Leicester City.

Due to the challenging defensive conditions caused by the rain, City fell down by one goal in the first half. But Fred Tilson’s strike in the 74th minute tied the score. The same player scored the winning goal in the 88th.

9. Newcastle 3-1 Manchester City: 1954/55

The 74th FA Cup final was the one that took place in 1955. It was played between Newcastle United and City on May 7, 1955, at Wembley Stadium.

With a 3-1 victory, Newcastle won the cup for the third time in five years and for the sixth time overall. After forty-five seconds, Jackie Milburn scored Newcastle’s opening goal.

Shortly before halftime, when City’s Bobby Johnstone equalised. In the 52nd minute, Bobby Mitchell gave Newcastle the lead again, and seven minutes later, George Hannah added the third goal.

8. Manchester City 3-1 Birmingham City: 1955/56

Birmingham defeated Torquay United, Leyton Orient, West Brom, Arsenal, and Sunderland, while City overcame Blackpool, Southend United, Liverpool, Everton, and Spurs to advance to Wembley.

The game will always be known for Bert Trautmann’s contribution, even if Joe Hayes, Jack Dyson, and Bobby Johnstone scored the goals.

7. Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City: 1968/69

Malcolm Allison and Joe Mercer worked together to build one of the best teams in the country and in Manchester City’s history. With Leicester still fighting to stay in the First Division, City were the clear favourite going into the game.

Young’s strike gave Mercer and Allison’s legendary City team even another spectacular moment in a game with few opportunities.

6. Tottenham 3-2 Manchester City: 1980/81

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur faced off in the 100th Cup final, which took place in 1981.After extra time, the first game, which was played at Wembley on Saturday, May 9, 1981, ended 1-1. Tommy Hutchison gave City the lead in the 30th minute, but Spurs equalised in the 79th minute with City’s own goal.

Five days later, on Thursday, May 14, 1981, the Spurs prevailed 3-2 in the rematch.

5. Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City: 2010/11 

Although City hadn’t taken home a major prize since the League Cup in 1976, they were once again a formidable opponent under Roberto Mancini.

In the first half, Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli came the closest to scoring past Stoke’s Thomas Sorensen, who was far busier. In the 74th minute, a goalmouth scramble in the box ended with the Ivorian’s feet.

He hopped onto it and pounded through a crowd of bodies, notably Sorensen, and into the net to start riotous celebrations.

4. Manchester City 0-1 Wigan: 2012/13

It was Manchester City’s seventh Cup final and Wigan’s first. Officiated by Andre Marriner, the game began in the early evening in the presence of 86,254 spectators.

Shaun Maloney took the corner kick one minute into injury time. Ben Watson outjumped Jack Rodwell and headed the ball over Manchester City keeper Joe Hart and into the goal to give Wigan Athletic a 1-0 victory.

3. Manchester City 6-0 Watford: 2018/19

After lifting the Premier League for a second time after his third season, Pep Guardiola added this renowned antique trophy to his cabinet.

David Silva gave the Blues the lead in the 26th minute, and they dominated from the start. Gabriel Jesus applied the finish about two minutes before the break.

After an hour, Kevin De Bruyne added a third, and a few minutes later, Jesus added his second. Raheem Sterling’s late brace completed the win.

2. Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United: 2022/23

It was the very first occasion the Manchester derby had occurred in a cup final. It took place on June 3, 2023, at Wembley Stadium in London between Manchester City and Manchester United. City won the game 2-1, earning their second double and eighth FA Cup championship.

1. Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City: 2023/24

Holders Manchester City and local rivals Manchester United faced off in the final. It was a rematch of the last final, which City had won 2-1. The two teams faced in the final for the second time.

United avenged their loss by the same margin as the season before by winning the game for their 13th title.

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