Despite featuring in matches for Manchester City this season, four players will miss out on receiving Premier League winners’ medals. City secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title, a historic achievement in English top-flight football, with a decisive victory over West Ham on the final day of the season at the Etihad Stadium.
The match saw Phil Foden score in the second minute, settling the nerves of City fans early on. Foden doubled his tally before half-time, further solidifying City’s dominance. Although West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus managed to score with an impressive bicycle kick, Rodri’s powerful strike in the second half ensured the match ended in City’s favor.
As a result, Manchester City will be awarded Premier League champions’ medals. The league allocates 40 medals to be distributed among the manager, Pep Guardiola, the players, and the coaching and backroom staff. According to current regulations, every player who has participated in at least five Premier League matches is eligible for a medal.
This season, 21 City players have met this criterion, leaving 19 medals available for distribution among the coaching staff and other members of the team. Clubs can request additional medals from the Premier League, but such requests are only approved if 39 or more players have played five or more matches.
At present, four players are set to be excluded from receiving medals despite contributing to City’s successful campaign, albeit in a limited capacity. Notably, none of these players are currently with the club, as two have permanently left Manchester City.
Cole Palmer, now a standout player for Chelsea, scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists this season. However, his contribution to City’s campaign was minimal, with only a 10-minute appearance off the bench during the opening day victory over Burnley. Similarly, Aymeric Laporte, who left City to join Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, played his final match for the club in that same game against Burnley.
The other two players, Kalvin Phillips and James McAtee, currently on loan to West Ham and Sheffield United respectively, also fall short of the medal eligibility. Phillips featured in four matches, while McAtee made just one appearance for City.
While City has the option to award medals to these four players, this decision would involve reallocating medals meant for the support staff. Given the club’s extensive backroom team, including coaching and medical staff, this could potentially exclude deserving members who have significantly contributed to the team’s success throughout the season.
Awarding medals to players who left the club or had minimal involvement in the campaign is a contentious issue. On one hand, acknowledging their contributions, however small, respects their role in the season’s achievements. On the other, it risks undervaluing the efforts of the support staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Ultimately, the decision rests with Manchester City. The club must balance honoring past and present players’ contributions with recognizing the integral role of their support staff. This dilemma highlights the complexities of success in modern football, where a single medal can symbolize a season’s worth of effort and dedication from various individuals both on and off the pitch.
