© Imago
Like FC Bayern Women in Germany, Manchester City also claimed the domestic double last season after winning the Women’s Super League and FA Cup. The two teams now meet for the first time in the opening round of the league phase in the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the Sportpark Unterhaching on Tuesday (18:45 CEST). Boasting some prolific players and former FCB favourites, fcbayern.com introduces the Blues, their history and stars.
🎟️ Head here for tickets for next week’s Champions League match against Manchester City. Applications for the Real Madrid and Barcelona ties can be made here.
A slow start
The Manchester City squad from 2014. | © Imago
The story of women’s football at Manchester City goes back to November 1988 when Neil Mather formed Manchester City Ladies Football Club and became the first manager. The team started out in north west regional league but found things tough at times in the first years, with their lack of financial independence meaning their fortunes were often tied to the men’s side, who themselves suffered relegation in that era. It was only later in the 1990s that things began to stabilise.
Following an internal reorganisation, City went through the 1997/98 second division season unbeaten. In 2000, they won the Premier Division and then secured promotion via the play-off to progress beyond the north west leagues for the first time. After surviving several years in the Women’s Premier League, City were accepted into the expanded Women’s Super League in 2014 and bolstered the squad with England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, midfielder Jill Scott and centre-back Steph Houghton. Nick Cushing took over as manager.
First major titles
A young Georgia Stanway featured in the first Manchester City team to be crowned champions of England in 2016. | © Imago
An unbeaten season saw them beat Chelsea to the title in 2016, starting an era of success that included three FA Cups and a League Cup. The Citizens also started to make their mark in Europe, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2017 and 2018 but losing to Lyon each time. Their last continental campaign saw them get to the quarter-finals in 2024/25.
Despite being one of the dominant sides domestically, it would be another decade until they won the Super League again, with six runners-up finishes in between.
Domestic and international success
City won the domestic double for the first time last season. | © Imago
Last season’s title triumph came with a club record of 55 points, dropping only 11 all told as they won all 11 home fixtures. Their campaign included a 13-game winning run from September to February, claiming the scalps of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. The title was secured on the penultimate weekend after Arsenal could only draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. The following week brought a second trophy and first domestic double as they beat Brighton in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Jeglertz’s impact
Andrée Jeglertz guided City to a historic campaign in 2025/26. | © Imago
Andrée Jeglertz is the man behind the success in Manchester, having taken over in summer 2025. The 53-year-old Swede was previously in charge of Denmark and succeeded Gareth Taylor, having won several league titles with Umea in his homeland, as well as the 2004 UEFA Women’s Cup, the predecessor of the Champions League. Jeglertz became the third manager to win England’s Super League in his first season.
The squad
Khadija Shaw (r.) has been top scorer in England for the last three seasons. | © Imago
City’s squad is full of international talent, led by striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw. The Jamaican scored 21 league goals last season to claim her third straight top scorer crown in the Women’s Super League – a record. She partners up front with former Bayern player Vivianne Miedema, who is the all-time top scorer in England’s first division. However, she will miss the trip to Munich through injury.
Yui Hasegawa pulls the strings in City’s midfield. | © Imago
Japan’s Yui Hasegawa is the playmaker in central midfield, while she’s also been given freedom to get involved in attacks under Jeglertz. Lauren Hemp provides speed and creativity on the left. She set up more chances than anyone else in last season’s Super League.
German influence
Sydney Lohmann joined City from Bayern last season. | © Imago
There are also three key Germans in City’s squad. Rebecca Knaak has established herself as a versatile member of the defence since joining in 2025. Carlotta Wamser is a summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, with the 22-year-old signing a four-year contract. Plus there’s Sydney Lohmann, who made the switch from Munich over 12 months ago. However, she’s currently out with a hip injury.
🎟️ Head here for tickets for next week’s Champions League match against Manchester City. Applications for the Real Madrid and Barcelona ties can be made here.
📰 We spoke ahead of the game with captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir:
Topics of this article