Top five players with the most appearances for Manchester City

While the club currently gets slandered for not having fans today, Manchester City was established in 1880 as St Mark’s before it officially became Manchester City in 1894. The club has grown across the tiers and pyramids of English football. From early FA Cup successes to their modern-day renaissance under the Abu Dhabi ownership, the club’s history is rich and varied. 

Throughout these eras, a certain set of players have demonstrated extraordinary loyalty and commitment to the club while being the cornerstones through hundreds of appearances. While recent successes have brought global stars to the club, here are the top five players with the most appearances for Manchester City, who spent time at a single institution throughout the glory and troubled times.  

Top five players with the most appearances for Manchester City

1) Joe Corrigan - 569 appearances

The record holder for most appearances for Manchester City, Joe Corrigan served as the imposing goalie for 16 years for the club. Standing 6'4”, he was a player with a commanding physical presence with great agility. His Manchester City career spanned across 480 Premier League games and 90 Cup appearances. 

Corrigan won three major honors with Manchester City including League and FA Cup with a European triumph while also winning nine caps for England in an era dominated by Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence. A three-time Player of the Year for Manchester City, Corrigan saved the side regularly in the challenging times. His departure to American side Seattle Sounders marked the end of an era with Corrigan having established himself as arguably the club's greatest-ever goalkeeper.

2) Alan Oakes - 513 appearances

Alan Oakes featured for the Cityzens from 1959 to 1976, making 513 appearances for the side. He provided the balance to the midfield which held its composure during the successful spells of the club. Oakes was a brilliant reader of the game and his exceptional passing range and remarkable consistency made him the best amongst the City players. 

Throughout his close to two decades journey with the club, he lifted multiple trophies including the First Division Title, FA Cup League Cup, and European Winners’ Cup. He never had an international appearance despite his performance at the top level. After leaving City, he served as player-manager at Chester. Upon retirement, his nephew Michael Oakes continued the family's goalkeeping tradition with Aston Villa and Wolves.

3) Mike Doyle - 506 appearances

Mike Doyle embodied Manchester City's fighting spirit during 448 league and 58 cup appearances between 1965 and 1978. A versatile performer who started as a right-back before establishing himself in central defense and occasionally midfield, Doyle became renowned for his fierce competitiveness and outspoken hatred of Manchester United. This local lad from Ashton-under-Lyne scored 41 goals during his City career, including the opener in the 1970 League Cup final victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Doyle's trophy cabinet includes every major honor City won during their golden period: First Division title (1967-68), FA Cup (1969), League Cup (1970), European Cup Winners' Cup (1970), and another League Cup (1976), where he captained the side to victory against Newcastle United. His leadership qualities made him club captain for several seasons, while his performances earned him five England caps. After departing Maine Road, Doyle played for Stoke City, Bolton, and Rochdale before his untimely death in 2011 at age 64, leaving behind a legacy as one of City's most passionate servants.

4) Bert Trautmann - 480 appearances 

Bert Trautmann's extraordinary Manchester City story transcends football. A former German paratrooper and prisoner of war who remained in England after World War II, Trautmann overcame initial hostility to become a City icon between 1949 and 1964. His 480 appearances included 418 league games during which he revolutionized goalkeeping with his advanced positional play and courageous shot-stopping. Trautmann's legendary status was cemented in the 1956 FA Cup final when he played the final 17 minutes with a broken neck as City defeated Birmingham City 3-1.

This remarkable act of bravery made headlines worldwide. Despite never representing Germany internationally due to the country's policy of selecting only domestic players, Trautmann was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1956, becoming the first goalkeeper to receive this honor. Beyond his broken neck heroics, Trautmann's contribution to post-war Anglo-German relations was recognized with an OBE in 2004. 

5) Tommy Booth - 459 appearances 

A commanding center-half from Middleton, supported and played for his local club for 16 years between 1965 and 1981, making him one of the best players in the history of Manchester City. With over 400 league appearances and 58 cup fixtures, he was the cornerstone of Manchester City’s successful period. 

Tommy Booth's exclusive trophy collection includes First Division titles, FA Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, and the League Cup but also stood the test of time when the club got relegated. He formed the best defensive pairing with Mike Doyle to make the side defensively formidable. After leaving City, Booth spent time at Preston North End before retiring and moving into coaching, where he continued to serve his beloved Blues.