Latest news with #BenWilkinson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
A look at City's record-breaking four PL2 titles
Earlier this month, Ben Wilkinson's Elite Development Squad etched the Academy's name in the history book by becoming the first club to win four Premier League 2 titles. And not just a record-breaking four, but four trophy lifts in five seasons, which included a recent restructuring of the competition's format. Advertisement To mark this moment in the Club's history, we take a look back on the four titles and what makes each one special… 2020/21 – THE FIRST OF FOUR In the old format of the Premier League 2, the champion was decided after 24 Gameweeks. City's closest race for the title dated back to 2016/17 when we finished second behind Everton. But in 2020/21, our first title win, City cruised to the title in outstanding fashion, securing the league summit with two games left to play. Our young boys in blue won 17, drew five and lost two games to total 56 points en route to the trophy. City boasted a goal difference of 49 thanks to our 79 strikes versus 30 conceded. Advertisement WATCH: Crowning glory for City's EDS Aged 18, Liam Delap scored an impressive 24 goals in 20 appearances, which would see him earn the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award when the curtain fell on the campaign. Tommy Doyle topped the assist chart with 10 in 18 matches, with Cole Palmer also tallying impressive numbers at 19 years old. He scored 13 and assisted six in 16 games. In his debut season in charge, Enzo Maresca's EDS side went on a 17-game unbeaten run to complete the season as City leapfrogged Liverpool, Chelsea and Derby County after a tight start to the campaign. And this campaign's success would be the catalyst for more to come… 2021/22 – BACK-TO-BACK Looking to defend the title for the first time in the Club's history, the team undoubtedly rose to the occasion. Advertisement Also, in his debut campaign as EDS Lead Coach, Brian Barry-Murphy led the squad to City's second PL2 title. With 16 wins, six draws and four defeats, our young boys in blue topped the table with 54 points with second-place West Ham totalling 48. WATCH: Watch City's EDS squad lift the PL2 trophy! Leading the way for City in front of goal was James McAtee who bagged 18 in 23 games. And Oscar Bobb totalled the second highest number of assists in the league, teeing up his team-mates 10 times in 26 appearances. Goalkeepers Cieran Slicker and Mikki van Sas helped City remain solid at the back as they kept five and four respective clean sheets. Advertisement What perhaps made this title win so special was the togetherness of the squad, with every player leaving their mark on the trophy lift. 24 players scored or assisted in City's second PL2 triumph. 2022/23 – HISTORIC THREE-PEAT In the final campaign of the previous PL2 format, City claimed the title for a third successive season, becoming the first Club to achieve the feat. And Barry-Murphy also became the first City coach to win two Premier League 2 titles. Another young squad was ready to take centre stage and find ways in which to better the previous two seasons, if at all possible. They broke City's previous record tally, reaching 59 points from 18 wins, five draws and three defeats. Advertisement Our EDS scored a staggering 80 goals in 26 games, averaging three per game, and conceded just 31 for a goal difference of 49. Carlos Forbs couldn't stop scoring goals, completing the campaign with 21 in 24 appearances. And wasn't shy of teeing up his team-mates too with 11 assists to boast 32 goal involvements. At 18 years old, Adedire Mebude also enjoyed finding the back of the opposition's net, scoring 11 goals as he featured in every PL2 game. He also totalled 13 assists, but topping the chart was Oscar Bobb in his second season with the EDS with 16. Mikki van Sas was once again a formidable force in goal, keeping seven clean sheets from 15 games, all vital as City closed in on the third title. Advertisement Whilst silverware isn't at the top of the priority list, the environment of pushing for a historic title and being chased by talented teams just below created a vital learning experience for our young boys in blue. And they did hold their nerve, lifting the title in April 2023 to be the final team to win the PL2 in its old format. 2024/25 – REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Debut seasons for Lead Coaches continue to show a positive success rate. In his first campaign in charge of the EDS, Wilkinson led our young boys in blue to the record-breaking fourth title earlier this month. After a season of adjusting to the new PL2 format, City's squad, whilst still the youngest in the competition, was ever so slightly older and more mature than the campaign prior. Advertisement WATCH: Watch: City EDS lift the Premier League 2 trophy! And that proved a key part in our journey to success with Wilkinson's side showing resilience on a handful of occasions, clawing back 10 points from losing positions in the league phase. For the first part of the season, City led the charge for the league title, winning 15 games out of 20 to set a new points record of 47. Our boys in blue found the back of the net 61 times, with Divin Mubama bagging the most (11), to average just over three a game. At the other end of the pitch, City were also just as strong. Wilkinson's squad conceded just 23 and totalled seven clean sheets to boast more impressive numbers. Advertisement Helping City shut out our opponents was Jahmai Simpson-Pusey who was named the PL2 Player of the Season, following in the footsteps In the new format, City then progressed to the play-offs for the first time since the competition's restructure. And it was no easy route to further silverware. An extra-time win over Liverpool was followed by another extra-time win over Arsenal. One step away from the final City welcomed our rivals Manchester United to the Joie Stadium. A comfortable 2-0 win saw us progress where we faced Southampton in the last game of the season. And another 2-0 win completed a fantastic season for the EDS as we became PL2 champions.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Youth captain Simpson-Pusey keeps options open
Manchester City's Premier League 2 winning captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has kept his options open for next season as he wants to "play first-team football".Simpson-Pusey, 19, led City to a record fourth title in the competition and also became the first defender to claim the PL2 player of the season injury crisis allowed Simpson-Pusey to break into the first team this season, making six appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao he feels he has completed his business at academy level, saying: "I feel like I've done what I've needed to do with the under-21s. I just want to play first team football."Asked if it would be at another club, Simpson-Pusey told BBC Sport: "I guess we'll see [what happens]. That's not on my mind yet. I'm definitely ready."I've not spoken to anyone about it. I'm sure some people will feel the same, especially after winning the league."City's elite development squad coach Ben Wilkinson told the Manchester Evening News:, external "He has had a great season. Who knows what is next but he probably wants to leave U21 football."The fact he can leave it having lifted the Youth Cup at the end of last year and the PL2 trophy this year means he can be really proud of his academy journey."
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Pep Guardiola has new coach for Club World Cup as Manchester City make plans for backroom staff
Manchester City 's Under-21 manager Ben Wilkinson will join Pep Guardiola 's backroom team for the Club World Cup. Wilkinson, the son of former Leeds boss Howard, guided City's youngsters to the Premier League 2 title – beating Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United in the playoff stage before overpowering Southampton in this month's final. The 38-year-old is set to link up with City's first team alongside assistant Craig Mudd when they arrive in Florida for a camp ahead of the summer tournament. Guardiola's staff will be reduced by the time they head for America, with assistant Juanma Lillo leaving the club as well as both Inigo Dominguez and Carlos Vicens. The coaching shake up coincides with new director of football Hugo Viana's appointment and City's sluggish season. Mail Sport revealed earlier in the week that there had been some confusion among the backroom staff after the offer of contract renewals had been delayed. City are thought to be moving forward with new deals this week but Guardiola will need fresh voices ahead of next year. Having won last year's FA Youth Cup, Wilkinson has impressed since taking the Under 21s from Brian Barry-Murphy, who had become an integral member of staff during Guardiola's training sessions. City's Under 19s, led by Wilkinson, also reached the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals, losing out to the 2023 winners AZ Alkmaar. Wilkinson's invitation to form part of Guardiola's staff for the summer points to a host of youngsters making the trip. His role will be similar to that of Barry-Murphy's previously, with an onus on setting up the academy players in the shape of opposition. Divin Mubama, Divine Mukasa, Reigan Heskey, Ryan McAidoo and Stephan Mfuni are among those to have shone at age group levels. 'More than anything I think it justifies the work we have done all year,' Wilkinson said after clinching the Premier League 2 title. 'There have also been some great opportunities to stretch the players and put them in the environment we want them to experience.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Man City win record fourth PL2 title
Manchester City's elite development squad won the Premier League 2 title for a record fourth time with a 2-0 victory over Southampton. Ben Wilkinson's side came top of the league phase and emerged through the play-offs to lift the trophy at Joie Stadium on Thursday evening. First-half goals from Divin Mubama and Ashton Muir gave City a comfortable victory, keeping the Saints in check for the majority of the contest. The squad received a message from first-team manager Pep Guardiola, who said: "To win the Premier League title is such a tough thing to achieve and a matter of huge pride for us all at the club. "The manner of their victory showed how talented our young players are and also proved that they play with courage and personality too. "We see how strong the academy is every single day, and the quality is there every single time the young players train with us."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Man City win record fourth PL2 title
Manchester City's elite development squad won the Premier League 2 title for a record fourth time with a 2-0 victory over Wilkinson's side came top of the league phase and emerged through the play-offs to lift the trophy at Joie Stadium on Thursday goals from Divin Mubama and Ashton Muir gave City a comfortable victory, keeping the Saints in check for the majority of the squad received a message from first-team manager Pep Guardiola, who said: "To win the Premier League title is such a tough thing to achieve and a matter of huge pride for us all at the club."The manner of their victory showed how talented our young players are and also proved that they play with courage and personality too."We see how strong the academy is every single day, and the quality is there every single time the young players train with us."
