Ranking Manchester City's Top 6 International Players

In recent times, international breaks have left Manchester City's training ground nearly empty. They have a squad full of internationals having established themselves as one of the top sides in the country following heavy investment since Sheikh Mansour's takeover of the club in 2008.

City now send players off to play for Brazil, Ivory Coast, Spain, Belgium and Bosnia, but who are their all-time best six international players?

Here, we take a look back and compile a list based on how many caps a player earned while playing in a City shirt and how well they performed for both club and country.

6. Georgi Kinkladze

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Hampered, in some respects by virtue of his Georgian nationality, Georgi Kinkladze will rarely be spoken about as an international great, but at the same time as carrying the can for an underachieving City side, he led his country with distinction.

Kinkladze was a special player: the kind capable of getting fans off their seats with his wonderful ability to take players on. His goals lit up an otherwise dour period in City's history, and his contribution will never be forgotten by the club's fans.

He played for his country 19 times while a City player—57 times overall—and, in fact, was signed after Francis Lee had seen him score a beautiful lob against Wales. He scored nine international goals, six of which came during his time as a City player.

Much like at City, he was Georgia's shining light, and he carried the weight of expectation superbly well.

5. Francis Lee

Phil Cole/Getty Images

Francis Lee was a key figure in City’s first wave of success in the late 1960s and early '70s, scoring 112 times in 248 games and winning a league title, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Cup Winners' Cup. He scored 10 goals in derby matches, a long-held record later equalled by Joe Hayes and recently bettered by Wayne Rooney.

He scored 10 goals for England in 27 appearances and played in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

4. Dave Watson

Dave Watson won the League Cup with City in 1976 and made 30 of his 65 England caps as a City player—a stalwart for both club and country.

He was a big part of England’s qualification for the 1980 European Championship—their first major tournament in 10 years—having been a mainstay in the side between 1974-1980.

He spent four years at City, missing out on a league title in 1976-77 by just one point and leading his country excellently throughout.

3. Colin Bell

Getty Images/Getty Images

Colin Bell played for City between 1966 and 1979, enjoying a hugely successful spell at the club. He left with his reputation as the club’s greatest-ever player unchallenged until very recently.

He won a league title in 1968, an FA Cup in 1969 and appeared in three League Cup finals, winning it in both 1970 and 1976. He also tasted European success with City, winning the Cup Winners' Cup in 1970.

During that time, he made 48 appearances for England and scored nine goals, but none came at a major tournament.

2. David Silva

Yves Logghe/Associated Press

Since arriving at City in 2010 just days after lifting the World Cup with Spain in South Africa, David Silva has enjoyed huge international success. As well as being City’s most important player, and perhaps the greatest in the club’s history, he is now established as a vital player in the Spain squad, too.

He played a key role in their 2012 European Championship win, scoring the opening goal against Italy in the 4-0 win in the final. It was a dazzling way for Spain to be crowned champions, and Silva was at the heart of their success.

After their disappointing World Cup in Brazil, the makeup of the Spain side has shifted dramatically, and Silva has emerged as a key player.

Having also won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup, Silva is one of the few players to combine club and international success while being a City player.

1. Edin Dzeko

Amel Emric/Associated Press

Edin Dzeko is arguably Bosnia’s greatest-ever player. He led them to their first-ever major championships at this summer’s World cup, scoring 10 goals in qualification. At times, it felt almost like a personal mission of Dzeko’s to get Bosnia into their first-ever international tournament, such was the distinction with which he led the line.

He has 38 goals in 69 caps, making him the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, and now, he captains the side. He already has one in the qualifying campaign for the next European Championship, scoring this week against his club team-mate Vincent Kompany in the 1-1 draw with Belgium.

Known as the “Bosnian Diamond,” Dzeko is a hero to all in Bosnia.