1999/2000: Under manager Joe Royle, Manchester City competed in the First Division, aiming for promotion back to the Premier League. The squad, including Paulo Wanchope, Nicky Weaver, and Ali Benarbia, showed flashes of quality but struggled with inconsistency. City finished 2nd, securing automatic promotion to the Premier League after a season of rebuilding.
2000/01: Back in the Premier League, City struggled to adapt to top-flight demands. Despite key contributions from Wanchope and Gareth Taylor, defensive weaknesses and squad inexperience led to a relegation battle, with City finishing 18th, narrowly avoiding the drop. The period highlighted the gap between division levels and the need for squad strengthening.
