'I was elbowed in the eye in my first game and said that's OK' - Man City hero whose name is written in blood and stitches

Pablo Zabaleta is a Manchester City legend whose name will forever be embroidered in stitches, and written in blood. He may not have scored glorious goals or provided breathtaking moments of skill, but he's still a hero to many.

The stocky little Argentine, who celebrated his 39th birthday this week, might not be as famous as Sergio Aguero, David Silva, or Vincent Kompany, but fans would love to see his statue at the Etihad Stadium. Even when he scored in that game against Queen's Park Rangers, his glory was overshadowed by two opposition goals and the ultimate drama in added time.

Everyone remembers Aguero's strike and Edin Dzeko's towering-headed equaliser. But few hark back to Zabaleta's first-half shot which looped off goalkeeper Paddy Kenny's poor attempt to paw it away, and dropped into the far corner.

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So what makes Zabaleta so special? Why do City fans still hold a special place in their hearts for a player who was unspectacular in an era when the Blues have taken the club to unseen heights?

The truth about Zabaleta's popularity lies in his down-to-earth nature and his connection with the fans. He joined Manchester City just before the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour, making him a symbolic link between the old and new eras of the club.

Zabaleta lived in Didsbury, a suburb of Manchester, while other players moved to grand mansions in Cheshire. He was known for playing pool and chatting with fans at the local pub, the Barleycorn.

After a Champions League trip, journalists were surprised to see Zabaleta waiting outside Terminal Three at Manchester Airport. While the rest of the team were