Manchester City scored more goals in a season than any other Football League team of the noughties – and their creative star was Ali Benarbia.

An Algerian who moved to France as a youngster, the 5ft 7in midfielder guided Jean Tigana’s Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 1997, when a squad featuring Emmanuel Petit, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet knocked Newcastle out of Europe. A year later, Benarbia was pivotal as Monaco beat Manchester United in the Champions League quarter- finals on away goals.

Transferring to Bordeaux in 1998, Benarbia immediately helped them win Ligue 1, too – named its player of the year before switching to PSG and captaining a side containing Jay- Jay Okocha. When Ronaldinho arrived in 2001, Benarbia was 32 and looking for a new challenge to end his career.

Premier League outfit Sunderland dragged their feet over a contract, so

Kevin Keegan brought him to Maine Road. City had just been relegated to the second tier under Joe Royle, but Benarbia became the focal point of a lethal attack, unpicking defences at will using his intelligence and vision.

With both Eyal Berkovic and Shaun Wright- Phillips in tow, the team tore it up in 2001- 02, netting 108 goals in 46 matches – Shaun Goater hit 28.

“I don’t think City supporters will have seen many players like him in the last 20 or 30 years,” said Keegan, explaining his huge popularity with the club’s fans. Benarbia was clearly too good for what was then known as the First Division, and it would be his only season playing at that level.

As the legs grew a little older, the pass master had less of an impact in the Premier League. But in one year alone, he had already done enough to become a Sky Blues hero for life.

Chris Flanagan