Manchester City: Ranking City's Home Kits for the Last 10 Seasons

This Sunday’s Community Shield matchup between Manchester City and Chelsea saw the Premier League champions finish with the 2012-2013 season’s first piece of silverware.

It also saw City’s first competitive appearance in their new away kit for the season ahead—the last set to be designed by Umbro before Nike takes over in 2013.

So before we see City’s new home kit make its competitive debut against Southampton next Sunday, let’s look back at City’s home kits for the last 10 seasons—and why not rank them while we’re at it?

10. 2002-2003

The bluest of the last 10 kits, 2002-2003’s home kit perhaps deviated from the club’s traditional light blue hue.

The dark collar was a neat touch, though, and has been replicated in this season’s new kit.

9. 2004-2006

2004 saw the debut of Thomas Cook as City’s principal sponsors in an arrangement that would last until the end of the 2008-2009 season.

8. 2009-2010

Etihad took over on the front of City’s shirts in 2009 following the Abu Dhabi United Group’s purchase of the club in 2008, but the relatively conservative and dull design puts them lower on this ranking.

7. 2003-2004

The white v-shaped collar and the blue stripes do the business on the 2003-2004 home kit, and together with the red-and-black striped away shirt, formed a very nice theme for the season.

6. 2010-2011

Simple with a rounded collar and white highlights, 2010-2011 was perhaps more memorable for its classy navy blue away kit.

5. 2007-2008

More stripes followed in 2007, and the navy blue sleeve highlights augmented an otherwise light blue design.

The purple-based away shirt was as interesting as it was eye-catching, but sadly the same can’t be said of the third kit, which looked more like a scout uniform.

4. 2006-2007

Classic City.

Perhaps the most distinctive and memorable City kit from the Thomas Cook era, the 2006 number featured white sleeves separated from the body by navy blue strips.

The collar topped off an overall classy design.

3. 2011-2012

The 2011-2012 kit will go down in history as a memorable kit as it yielded the club’s first-ever Premier League title.

Design wise, it was simple, clean and recalled the white collar from 2003.

The navy blue letters, not to mention the serif-based fonts on the back and the soundwave graphic embedded in the front, were a nice touch.

2. 2008-2009

Stylish with a navy blue collar and contrasting blue and white highlights on either sleeve.

The blue-shaded curve around the front of the shirt was excellent, and the 2008 home design was neatly mirrored by its black-and-red-themed away number.

The orange-based third kit, however, wasn’t as memorable.

1. 2012-2013

The new kit design for the EPL champions screams classy, classy, classy.

With no whites complementing a light-blue base, the kit also features a neat black collar.

Of course, the maroon away kit is equally classy—and City won their first trophy this season in it.

Also check out: 7 Things New U21 Premier League Means for English Football

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