Over the past decade, Manchester City has been home to a host of world-class players who’ve made a lasting impact on English football.
Under managers like Pep Guardiola, Manuel Pellegrini, and Roberto Mancini, several City stars have dazzled and led the club to significant trophies. Among retired players, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, and Fernandinho are iconic names, while Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ederson Moraes, and John Stones have been consistently exceptional.
Over the last ten years, no team has won more league titles than the Sky Blues, with Manchester City claiming four Premier League titles. Their dominance continues into the 2020s, winning four out of five titles so far this decade, thanks to emerging stars like Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland.
But among them, Kevin De Bruyne stands out as a defining player for City since joining in 2015. Both Roy Keane and Ian Wright recently praised De Bruyne, calling him the best player of the past decade in the Premier League during their conversation on The Overlap’s Stick To Football show.
Keane didn’t hesitate, saying, “No hesitation. Goals, assists, titles,” while Wright echoed, “I’ll go [Kevin] De Bruyne, of course.”
De Bruyne’s stats by 2020 tell the story:
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Titles Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 152 | 36 | 65 | 2 |
Achieving 101 goal involvements in 152 league games over five seasons is remarkable for a midfielder.
Ian Wright and Roy Keane have both compared De Bruyne’s influence to Lionel Messi. Wright said on Premier League Productions, “Just like Messi, they [great players] give you joy. When you watch Kevin De Bruyne play, you feel joy.” In March, Keane called him “one of the best players to ever play in the Premier League,” noting his remarkable partnership with Erling Haaland, adding, “If Haaland makes the right runs, he will find him.”
Kevin De Bruyne has defined City’s success over the past decade, and as he leads the midfield this season, he’s poised to keep solidifying his legacy as one of the league’s all-time greats.
