The day Agüero changed the history of City

Etihad Stadium, May 13, 2012. That day Sergio Agüero changed the history of Manchester City by scoring what is perhaps the most important goal of the ‘citizen’ club, the one that made him English champion 44 years later. Kun, who this Wednesday announced his retirement from football, is today City’s top scorer of all time, with 260 goals.

It was much more than a goal and much more than a Premier the one that that afternoon the team led by Roberto Mancini snatched from his neighbor, the then all-powerful United of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. It was the first step for City (since 2008 by Qatari owners) to enter the elite of European clubs.

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In that agonizing last day of the Premier 2011-12, City and United played the title. They were tied for the top of the table. City, leaders by goal difference, hosted Queens Park Rangers and United visited Sunderland.

Pablo Zabaleta advanced to City, but Queens Park Rangers rallied thanks to Djibril Cissé and Jamie Mackie. At the Stadium of Light, Wayne Rooney had put United ahead of Sunderland. Those from Old Trafford, who ended up winning 1-0, were close to the title.

Meanwhile, Joey Barton was sent off at QPR, but City did not score. In the second minute of discount, Edin Dzeko tied with a header and, with 40 seconds remaining, Kun scored, with a powerful kick and after combining with Mario Balotelli, the goal that made City champions, since with the 3 -2 beat United thanks to goal difference.

It was City’s third English league, the first since 1968 (after 1936-37). Then came those of 2013-14, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21 (the last 3, under the command of Pep Guardiola).

This Wednesday, in his farewell to football at the age of 33, Agüero recalled, in his farewell, that mythical goal, as well as “a very beautiful one” that he achieved with Independiente against Racing and, of course, the last of his professional career, in the Classic with Barcelona against Real Madrid (1-2 for the whites on October 24). And the triumph in the Europa League with Atlético.

No one in Manchester, not at the Etihad or Old Trafford, will ever forget that May 13th.