Man City unveil tribute to club legends Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee... with the bronze statue hailed as 'truly special' for the players and their families

A bronze statue paying tribute to Manchester City legends Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee has been unveiled extracurricular nan Etihad Stadium.

The Premier League champions person been eager to honour nan trio for their mixed 30 years of work to nan nine during nan 1960s and 1970s.

Now, up of Tuesday night's Champions League conflict against RB Leipzig, nan bronze statue, which sits connected a azygous plinth has been unveiled.

'This is simply a genuinely typical infinitesimal for maine and my family,' Mike Summerbee said. 

'I joined Manchester City successful 1965 and it is nan champion determination I could person perchance made. 50 years later, I americium still here, still treated pinch specified respect.

'I consciousness incredibly fortunate to beryllium recognised successful this way, amongst friends whose publication to our history this Club ne'er forgets, contempt nan astonishing occurrence we person enjoyed successful caller years. It is an honour to beryllium portion of this bonzer club.'

Speaking connected behalf of his precocious begetter Colin, Jon Bell said: 'This Football Club meant truthful overmuch to my father. He gave truthful overmuch to Manchester City, not conscionable passim his playing profession but beyond it into his later life.

'His enslaved pinch this club's supporters was genuinely exceptional and that he will beryllium remembered successful this measurement everlastingly is thing that our full family is incredibly touched by and will return awesome pridefulness in.'

As good arsenic paying homage to nan famed trio, City person besides chosen to observe each those who had a manus successful those 2 decades - wherever they won a First Division title, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup - of rich | success.

To do so, nan names of each 29 players who contributed crossed that trophy-winning play are inscribed connected nan bronze sheet that sits atop nan statue's plinth.

'My begetter enjoyed nan astir successful play of his profession astatine Manchester City and to spot that bequest immortalised successful this measurement is truthful meaningful to his full family,' Jonny Lee, speaking connected behalf of his precocious begetter Francis, said.

'We only said goodbye to him successful caller weeks and it was important to america that nan nine was astatine nan centre of that. The supporters gave him nan astir beautiful send-off and to travel that up pinch specified a imperishable tribute is everything he could person hoped for.'

The statue, which measures almost 4.5 metres precocious (14.5 feet) and 4 metres wide (13 feet), pinch an approximate weight of 2,000 kilos (4,409 pounds), is situated connected nan westbound broadside of nan Etihad Stadium, adjacent to nan Colin Bell stand.

World-renowned sculptor David Williams-Ellis was nan man tasked pinch creating nan tribute.

Manchester City's Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, was basal successful hand-picking nan sculptor, and he has been near delighted pinch nan extremity result.

'This statue honours 3 players who are unquestionably City legends and person deservedly earned a typical spot successful nan history of nan Club and hearts of nan full City family,' he said.

'The artist's determination to characteristic nan 3 men successful mobility connected a azygous plinth, arsenic good arsenic see nan 29 names of their team-mates, gives america nan opportunity to admit a trophy-winning era of City shot history that has, and will, resonate for generations to come.'

As good arsenic having illustrious playing careers pinch Man City, nan 3 honoured players each had post-playing roles astatine nan club. 

Bell worked arsenic a coach, Lee was president betwixt 1994-1998, and Summerbee remains nine ambassador to this day.

A characteristic magnitude documentary highlighting nan communicative of nan statues from inception to build will beryllium released connected Man City's YouTube transmission and their City+ level connected Saturday.

'It has been a awesome honour to activity alongside Manchester City successful celebrating their rich | history and nan immense publication of this very typical team,' sculptor Williams-Ellis said.

'I person been made alert passim nan process of nan extent of emotion towards each 3 of players and really that has spanned crossed almost six decades.

'I dream my activity brings that bequest to life arsenic a timeless reminder for early generations of supporters.'