Every year since Pep Guardiola has been at Manchester City, a club legend has departed.
In 2017 it was Pablo Zabaleta, in 2018 it was Yaya Toure. Vincent Kompany left on a high in 2019, and David Silva returned home a year later. Sergio Aguero was out of contract in 2021, before Fernandinho went back to Brazil last year. 2023 is the year that Ilkay Gundogan leaves the Etihad, with his final act being to lift the Champions League trophy.
City know how to say goodbye properly to their legends, and they also know how to replace them. It might take a year or two - as it did in the case of Kompany and Aguero, but City will undoubtedly find someone able to fill the huge gaps left by those stellar names.
Mateo Kovacic is the immediate replacement for Gundogan, and Guardiola has hinted at others who can move into midfield such as John Stones and Phil Foden. What will be harder to replace when Gundogan leaves will be his leadership.
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The process for choosing a successor to Gundogan for the captaincy will remain the same. The players and staff will vote, Pep Guardiola won't, and the new captain will be chosen, as will a new member of the five-strong captain's group.
David Silva replaced Kompany in 2019, Fernandinho replaced Silva, and Gundogan replaced Fernandinho. In each case, the eldest, most experienced player took on the armband. Each of those players weren't necessarily outspoken leaders like Kompany, but more players who led by example and chose the right time to say something. When they spoke, everyone listened.
If the dressing room want a similar figure, then the obvious candidate would be Kevin De Bruyne. He is the longest-serving player in the squad, does his talking on the pitch, raises his game on the big stage, and commands the respect of everyone at the club. When Gundogan has not played this season, De Bruyne has worn the armband nine times, more than any of the other four captains.
Kyle Walker is next with five games as captain, and he gave a rousing speech in Istanbul after finding himself on the bench, acknowledging his role as leader. As a successor, though, Walker is linked with a move to Bayern Munich and only has one year left on his contract. De Bruyne would be a longer-term option, surely.
Or could Ruben Dias be an outsider to assume the captaincy? UEFA's brilliant short film of the Champions League final shows Gundogan calling for Dias during training on the eve of the game, and it was Dias who had the final word in the tunnel before the teams emerged for the second half. His only time with the armband came in the Community Shield curtain-raiser 11 months ago, however.
No stranger to a rallying speech in the dressing room, Dias would be a captain in the mould of Kompany rather than Gundogan or Silva. He would not only lead by example on the pitch, but give City a more traditional, vocal captain that they haven't had for five years. Not that it's been a problem.
Rodri is the final member of the captain's group, having stood in a hotel ballroom in Houston last summer declaring his intentions to be more of a leader this season. He did that, and more, producing consistently brilliant performances and being the only real undroppable in the squad. Should City want an ever-present captain in the heart of the midfield, Rodri is far from a bad option.
With Gundogan leaving, and maybe Walker, too, there will be a space on the captain's committee. Could John Stones continue his ascent and take more responsibility? Ederson has been at City since 2017, while Manu Akanji seems to have the temperament required, and he was seen on the UEFA film telling his teammates to 'fight to the end' during the celebrations for Rodri's winner. If Bernardo Silva stays, he is another who is long-serving and knows the standards required in the dressing room.
That 'fifth captain' spot will be an interesting appointment, but the top job appears to be between the unassuming, long-serving De Bruyne and the vocal, extroverted Dias. Between the pair, there will be no bad vote.
