- Man City lifted Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970
- Final was 56 years ago today
- Was City’s only European trophy until recently
Fifty-six years ago today, Manchester City won the European Cup Winners’ Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over Polish side Górnik Zabrze.
In 1970, the tenth edition of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, then the secondary competition in European football, was won by City – the first and only time they won that competition.
The cup ran from 1960 to 1999, and was contested annually by the winners of European domestic cup competitions.
Now, 56 years to the day since City lifted the trophy, we’re taking a look at how they got there and who were the key performers for the Sky Blues.
How Manchester City won the European Cup Winners’ Cup
To qualify for the competition, City won the 1969 FA Cup, beating Leicester City 1-0 in the final at Wembley in front of 100,000 fans.
In the following year’s Cup Winners’ Cup, they were joined by fellow British sides Cardiff City and Rangers.
Defending champions Slovan Bratislava were eliminated in the first round by Dinamo Zagreb, while City beat Athletic Bilbao 6-3 over two legs.
Man City won the European Cup Winners' Cup, 56 years ago today in 1970. 🏆✨
— City HQ (@City_hq) April 28, 2026
𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. pic.twitter.com/SpKletR9L3
The Sky Blues then overcame Portuguese side Academica (1-0) and German club Schalke (5-2) to reach the final, which was held at Vienna’s Praterstadion.
Club legend and former chairman and main shareholder Francis Lee scored the winner, scoring a penalty after Neil Young’s opener, before Gornik Zabrze pulled one back through Stanisław Oślizło.
City had to wait 50 years for another European success
There were jubilant scenes among the City players and fans at full-time in Vienna. It was the club’s first European trophy, but few would have expected them to wait so long for their next.
After lifting the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970, it would be more than 50 years before the Sky Blues won another continental trophy.
The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League final saw City beat Inter Milan 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from Ballon d’Or Winner Rodri.
No European trophy but domestic treble still on for Man City
Having been knocked out of this year’s Champions League by Real Madrid, this season’s European dream is over for the Cityzens.
However, the Carabao Cup winners are still on course for a domestic treble. With the League Cup already secured, they reached a record fourth consecutive FA Cup final by beating Southampton 2-1 at Wembley in last weekend’s semi’s.
They now face Chelsea in the final, and are hunting down leaders Arsenal in an enthralling Premier League title race.
Having looked impossible just a few months ago, this could yet turn out to be one of the most successful seasons in the club’s history, 56 years on from their first European triumph.
