Champions are ready to reign at their parade
premier leaGue champions’ open-top bus celebration has been pencilled in For monday aFter blues’ last Game
MANCHESTER City’s triumphant Premier League title parade is being pencilled in for May 14 in the city centre, the M.E.N. can reveal.
The celebrations, on a Monday, are likely to take place in the evening, giving as many fans as possible the chance to go along and watch.
It is understood club bosses are poised to open talks with council leaders about exact plans.
No official announcement has been made by City, but Greater Manchester Police and council sources said May 14 was currently a likely date.
The parade will take place the day after City’s last league game of the season at Southampton.
Back in 2012, when a last-gasp Sergio Aguero goal famously won City the title, around 100,000 fans lined the streets to cheer on the team and manager Roberto Mancini in an open-top bus parade.
That was also on May 14 - a Monday - and featured the squad arriving at Manchester Town Hall before an almost two-mile parade.
The title-winning parade of the 2013/14 season under boss Manuel Pellegrini was held on May 12, again on a Monday.
Starting from the town hall, where captain Vincent Kompany hoisted the trophy aloft, the parade weaved down Mount Street, moving through the gathered crowds down Peter Street, Deansgate and Cateaton Street, before ending up in Exchange Square.
No exact route or format has been confirmed for this season’s victory parade. However, council sources said it was likely to follow a similar plan as the two other league title parades.
An open-top victory bus is expected to feature, with the town hall the likely starting point.
A source said: “It should be a wonderful celebration of the club, football and Manchester as a footballing capital. We expect many thousands of fans to attend again.”
The M.E.N. understands City had been planning to celebrate the title towards the end of May, but the Champions League loss to Liverpool meant the date could be brought forward.
It is understood the players are likely to lift the Premier League trophy on May 6 at the Etihad after the Huddersfield game.
City also celebrated winning the FA Cup in 2011, the club’s first silverware since the League Cup success in 1976, with a city centre parade on May 23, 2011, also a Monday.
The 2017/18 title was clinched for City and boss Pep Guardiola after Manchester United’s shock defeat to West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on Sunday - with five games of the season to go.
The Blues could also become the first team to break the 100point league barrier, with a total of 102 possible from their remaining five fixtures - against Swansea, West Ham United, Huddersfield, Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton.