Fernandinho’s landmark games for City | OneFootball

On his 40th birthday, we trace the incredible nine-year Manchester City career of the brilliant Fernandinho.

A tireless midfielder acquired in 2013 to provide energy in Manuel Pellegrini’s title-chasing side, he went on to play 383 times, spend two years as club captain and win 13 major trophies before leaving in 2022.

In fact, only 18 men have ever worn the shirt more times than he did.

He saw plenty of change at the Etihad and was the reliable, metronomic presence at the heart of things throughout.

Here we’ll go through his exceptional City career by pointing out the landmark games on the way.

Debut – City 4-0 Newcastle, August 2013

After Roberto Mancini had earned us our first FA Cup trophy and league title in more than a generation, it was time for Manuel Pellegrini to take the project on.

His first game in charge was also the debut of Fernandinho, who was tasked with bringing energy alongside Yaya Toure in central midfield.

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He played the whole game as the fan favourites who had taken us to the title in 2012 claimed the headlines – David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri scored the goals.

The Etihad faithful left that day contented with what they had seen from his solid first run out in English football, but few could have predicted the lengthy impact he would go on to have.

50th – Arsenal 2-2 City, September 2014

Just over a year on from his debut, Fernandinho was now a Premier League champion.

He had earned plaudits from all sides for his humble undertaking that saw the likes of Toure, Silva, Nasri and Aguero flourish further up the field.

In fact, Yaya had scored an incredible 20 goals in 2013/14 having been allowed to roam forward.

Now, Fernandinho was without his great partner in midfield for this game – instead playing alongside Frank Lampard in the middle of the park.

As you’d expect, the Brazilian covered every blade of grass in an end-to-end game that could have gone either way.

That’s how the season went, with City more than meriting our second placed finish but never truly testing eventual champions Chelsea.

100th – City 5-1 Bournemouth, October 2015

Changes were afoot for City early in the 2015/16 season, with Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi amongst the new additions.

However, Fernandinho and Yaya Toure remained the central pillars of the team that term and in this game.

Sterling scored a hat-trick and Wilfried Bony a brace as City ran riot against the Cherries.

With De Bruyne and Yaya Toure alongside Fernandinho in midfield, the trio would be the crux of Pellegrini’s side.

It wasn’t an easy campaign for the Blues, but we still managed to qualify for the Champions League.

With Pep Guardiola’s impending arrival also announced that season, how would Ferna fit into the Catalan’s model?

150th – Spurs 2-0 City, October 2016

Fernandinho said Pep’s arrival helped him fall in love with football again. The Brazilian was a mainstay of Guardiola’s team from the moment the Catalan arrived and City had enjoyed a brilliant start to his first campaign.

However, that came to an end at Spurs in this game and things would get tougher as the boss’ maiden campaign went on.

While there was a refresh looming in several areas of the pitch, it was immediately apparent that Guardiola would rely on his hard-working midfielder for years to come – despite Ferna being the second eldest of all the outfielders to play that day.

200th – Leicester 0-2 City, November 2017

After a season of bedding in, City were now flying under Pep. Fernandinho was at the base of a midfield three, flanked by David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne dictating play and winning matches.

This was a 16th consecutive win across all competitions and meant we had 34 points from our opening 12 games – equalling the record set in 2011/12.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne won this one as we began a romp towards Pep Guardiola’s first Premier League title.

Not just that, but we’d pick up a record 100 points and become the division’s first ever Centurions.

Fernandinho was just as pivotal as anyone else to that, playing 34 times in the Premier League.

In fact, it was mystifying to see the Brazilian left out of the PFA Team of the Year.

250th – Lyon 2-2 City, November 2018

With Guardiola’s glorious first title under his belt, City were looking to keep that momentum rolling in the following season.

A long injury to Kevin De Bruyne meant that Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan slotted into his midfield position, while Fernandinho and David Silva continued to excel in the roles they had cemented the previous term.

While we were again imperious in the league, a defeat at Lyon in the opening matchweek had put us on the backfoot in the Champions League.

This draw came in the fifth game of the group, after wins against Hoffenheim and home and away over Shakhtar Donetsk.

We twice came from behind to earn a draw against a Lyon side that Guardiola praised effusively after the final whistle.

300th – Spurs 2-0 City, February 2020

The summer of 2019 saw the arrival of Fernandinho’s eventual successor, Rodri.

However, the Spaniard was at this point still a rough diamond that was working closely with Pep and Fernandinho to understand the intricacies of perhaps the most important area of the pitch to our manager.

After two seasons at an almost impossibly high standard, City were not quite at our brilliant best over 2019/20.

Part of that was due to an injury crisis in the backline that saw Fernandinho step in at central defence for a period that included this game.

As well as proving he would always do what’s best for the team, the Brazilian’s spell at the back highlighted his wily determination and strength beyond his size to compete with the imposing frames of Premier League No.9s.

350th – City 0-1 Chelsea, Champions League final, May 2021

The Club’s first ever Champions League final was also Fernandinho’s 350th appearance in a City shirt.

It was his first season as club captain and he had lifted the Premier League trophy with the armband on less than a week earlier.

He didn’t start in this game however, instead coming on midway through the second half in place of Bernardo Silva.

Ilkay Gundogan was the deepest midfielder from the start, with Rodri also on the bench.

He provided a solid base in the closing stages of that game, but it wasn’t enough to get us back on level terms.

While it was a heartbreaking end to his eighth season at City, just being there was a clear indication of how far we had come since the Brazilian had arrived.

Last – City 3-2 Aston Villa, May 2022

An emotional farewell, but first – a job to do.

Having already confirmed his ninth season at City would be his last, Fernandinho’s final game in sky blue saw him again at centre-back.

We knew that three points would bring home another title, but found ourselves 2-0 down after Matty Cash and Phillippe Coutinho scored for the visitors.

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An Ilkay Gundogan brace either side of a cushioned Rodri finish turned it around in dramatic fashion, sealing the perfect end to the Brazilian’s City career.

He lifted the trophy and walked off into the sunset with a spectacular 13 major honours including five Premier League titles.