Vieira is now plying his trade as manager of Racing Strasbourg in Ligue 1 but it’s not stopped him keeping across the 2023/24 title race between his former clubs, City and Arsenal.
He's thoroughly enjoyed watching the fight for honours and hailed the achievement of the Blues in emerging with Four-in-a-Row in the Premier League.
“In one way I am surprised because it is so difficult to win the title four times in a row.
“When I was at Arsenal we didn’t manage to win it twice in a row, back-to-back. So that shows how difficult it is.
“Sometimes when you win, people take it for granted and think it’s normal. But take it from me, it’s a massive achievement.
“And there is nothing easy and nothing simple in football. When you have that success with the Treble and then winning Four-in-a-Row that shows the quality of the people at the football club, the quality of the football club, the solidity, how this football club is strong because success comes with hard work and good people to build the project.
“When you have all these aspects, as City do, you have much more chance of success.”
As for the gallant Gunners, who finished runners-up to City in the Premier League title race, falling short by two points over the course of 38 games?
“To be honest, I felt sorry for Arsenal because they had a really good season and I really enjoyed watching them,” Vieira added.
“They played some really good football. They have some really good talent and the problem for Arsenal was City.
“If City had a bad season, Arsenal would win the league.
“Arsenal are very strong defensively. Up front, they have some really good players and they played fantastically well.
“I watched some of their games and they were unbelievable.
“Arsenal closed the gap and it will be even more interesting next season if they can keep that momentum. I think they will be challenging City.”
For now, City are top of the pile, following up the Treble in 2022/23 with Four-in-a-Row in 2023/24, leading to the mighty moniker of ‘History Makers’.
Vieira knows all about signatures for sides, having been captain in the famous ‘Invincibles’ – Arsenal ending the 2003/04 Premier League campaign as champions without a single defeat.
But what of City’s ‘History Makers’ v Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ in their prime?
“I will let people discuss that one and talk about it because I don’t like to compare teams from different generations,” Vieira laughed.
“When I was at Arsenal we achieved something really special.
“When you manage to win four trophies in succession that’s something really special as well.
“So I don’t want to say one is better than the other one but what City achieved with the Treble and then the Four-in-a-Row, especially in the modern game where you play more matches, that makes it really quite special.
“It’s an unbelievable achievement. But at this football club, it’s not just about the trophies, it’s about the quality of the football they play as well.”
Words by Paul Brown. Design by Izzy Rendell.