Manchester City’s odyssey from Dickov to the brink of immortality

A real sliding doors moment as Paul Dickov’s last-minute equaliser in the 1999 Division Two play-off final helps City climb out of the third tier. Dickov’s strike into the top corner to send the game to extra time and penalties (in which Nicky Weaver is the City hero) feels like the flap of a butterfly wing – would City have become the behemoth they are now without the Scot burying his finish past Vince Bartram to break Gillingham hearts at Wembley?

City return to the Premier League

Shaun Goater celebrates scoring against Blackburn in May 2000 as City are promoted back to the Premier League. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Shaun Goater’s goals help City pip Ipswich Town in Division One and secure back-to-back promotions, with City returning to the Premier League after five years away. Are you even a real City fan if you can’t name the midfield three of Kevin Horlock, Jeff Whitley and Mark Kennedy? This remains a City team, and the first season of Shaun Wright-Phillips’ career.

Kevin Keegan arrives

Kevin Keegan is greeted by ecstatic fans outside Maine Road in 2001. Photograph: Christopher Thomond

Relegation back to Division One the following season saw City sack manager Joe Royle and bring in Kevin Keegan for 2001-02. Having given up the England job in 2000, Keegan got immediate results as City bounced back to the top tier as champions with a record-breaking points tally (99), before earning a top-half finish in the Premier League, a stretch that included a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Maine Road, the first derby win in 13 years.

Manchester City bid farewell to Maine Road in 2003. Photograph: Alex Livesey/ Getty Images

After 80 years as the club’s home, City fans waved goodbye to Maine Road on 11 May 2003 as the