2012–13 Manchester City F.C. season
The 2012–13 season was Manchester City Football Club's 111th season of competitive football, 84th season in the top flight of English football and 16th season in the Premier League. City began the season as defending champions, after a dramatic win on the final day secured the title in 2011–12. The club also played in the UEFA Champions League for the third time and second since the competition was rebranded in 1992. Drawn in a group with Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax, City finished bottom, failing to advance either to the knockout stages or the Europa League. The Blues were winless throughout the group stages, recording three draws and three defeats. In the Premier League, they finished runners-up to local rivals Manchester United, having been eliminated from the League Cup in the third round.
| 2012–13 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Abu Dhabi United Group | |||
| Chairman | Khaldoon Al Mubarak | |||
| Manager | Roberto Mancini (until 13 May 2013) Brian Kidd (caretaker manager, from 13 May 2013) | |||
| Stadium | Etihad Stadium | |||
| Premier League | 2nd | |||
| FA Cup | Runners-up | |||
| League Cup | Third round | |||
| FA Community Shield | Winners | |||
| UEFA Champions League | Group stage | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Edin Džeko (14) All: Sergio Agüero Carlos Tevez (17 each) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 47,386 vs. Everton (1 Dec 2012, Premier League) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 28,015 vs. Aston Villa (25 Sep 2012, League Cup) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 45,781 (in all competitions) | |||
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On 14 April 2013, Manchester City defeated holders Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals and reached the final where they would face relegated Wigan Athletic. It was City's tenth final appearance and second in three years (after their triumph over Stoke City in 2011). The final was played on 11 May, and the Blues suffered a shock 1–0 defeat at the hands of the Latics due to a late goal from Ben Watson. Pablo Zabaleta was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, making him only the third player to be dismissed in a final.
On 13 May, just two days after the match, Roberto Mancini was sacked from his role as manager after a three-and-a-half-year tenure, with Manchester City stating that he had "failed to achieve any of the club's targets, with the exception of qualification for next season's Champions League". His assistant, Brian Kidd, took charge until the end of the season.