One of the most beloved cult heroes in Premier League history, Georgi Kinkladze is still adored at Manchester City, and the feeling is mutual.
For younger readers, there was a time when the reigning four-time Premier League winners weren’t very good, but thanks to Kinkladze, they had something to smile about.
Kinkladze was a City icon despite the club going through a rough time and relegation
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Kinkladze was a City icon despite the club going through a rough time and relegationCredit: Getty
From 1995 to 1998 when the Georgian attacking midfielder was in Sky Blue, City went from the top tier to the third, and he was the only one bringing joy to suffering supporters.
With 22 goals in 121 games, it was clear he was far too good to stay in Manchester, particularly when European giants like Barcelona and Inter Milan were sniffing around.
However, Kinkladze did exactly that, and has explained to talkSPORT that it was the fans who made him hang around.
Asked why he turned down clubs as big as Celtic, he answered: “Because I loved the club and fans so much I never had any second thoughts, I decided to stay.
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“I loved to play for City and whenever I have free time I still come back, it’s almost 30 years ago in 1995 I played for City but I always have a warm welcome here.
“I never felt like I was a foreigner, it’s my second home and I’m really, really pleased about it.”
His unique style made him a legend outside of Manchester too, and Kinkladze thinks it’s down to the skill he showed week-in, week-out.
“It’s not the same as it was before,” he explained. “I don’t know. I think the way I played football at that time, there weren't as many skillful players in the Premier League and as many foreigners, so I think I was maybe something special.”
Fast forward almost three decades, and City are now a side any player would dream of lining up for, winning every trophy on offer with some of the best players in world football.
Yet despite a European treble win in 2023 and a record four-year Premier League winning streak, things have gone wrong this term.
The Georgian icon is regularly welcomed back to the Etihad
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The Georgian icon is regularly welcomed back to the EtihadCredit: Getty
Pep Guardiola’s side have dramatically dropped out of the title race, and are even under threat of missing out on the knockout rounds in the Champions League.
With just one win and seven defeats in ten games, City head into the Manchester derby in the worst form they’ve been in for years, but Kinkladze is still confident, thanks to the man he calls ‘The best coach in the world’.
Discussing recent results, he said: “This is football, you know, it happens, but I think it will stop on Sunday… I’m excited, I think we will win 3-1.
“I think they’re the best team in Europe for me, how they play in possession and try to get the ball as soon as they lose it. They play attacking football so they’re a great team with great players.”
Adding on why he’s so excited, he finished: “This game is always personal to me.
“In my time Manchester United was dominating English football and we were always losing, now it’s my pleasure to see how they’re doing now.”