John Stones might not get cast in bronze outside the Etihad, like some of his more celebrated team-mates have been - but for long periods of his illustrious decade-long spell with Manchester City, Stones was pure gold.
A Decade of Dedication
Stones will end ten years at Manchester City this summer. While he may not receive the same plaudits as his great team-mates, he has been integral to Pep Guardiola's trophy-laden period. He arrived at the Etihad from Everton in the summer of 2016, at the same time as Guardiola. In the previous months, Guardiola had been instrumental in the signing of Stones, even though he hadn't officially taken charge. He wanted Stones for a reason: because he rated him as the best footballing centre half in English football. Over the next ten years, Stones proved Guardiola right.
Overcoming Adversity
Despite suffering some cruel luck with injuries, Stones stood shoulder to shoulder with Guardiola in the process of turning City into the greatest club side of a generation, perhaps the best of all time in English football. Stones has won 16 trophies, including the Premier League six times, and was part of the side that claimed a historic Treble back in 2023. He cried on the pitch in Istanbul when attempting to sum up the achievement.
Guardiola once said: "Since I arrived, he arrived. The many good things and the sad things, we lived together. We share it. He's an incredible human being."
The Barnsley Beckenbauer
There was a reason Stones earned the nickname the Barnsley Beckenbauer. He is as comfortable on the ball as the German legend used to be. So much so that in that Treble-winning campaign, Guardiola deployed Stones in a hybrid midfield role, operating in front of the back four alongside Rodri. Not a role your average defender would be trusted with. At the peak of his powers, Stones was a classy combination of composure, speed, vision, and calmness under pressure.
"You don't quite appreciate him until you're playing alongside him," said Kyle Walker, who shared countless moments with Stones for both club and country. "He rarely gets beat, is great on the ball, and very calm and level-headed."
A Fitting Farewell
Stones, who also appeared in two Euros finals with England and a World Cup semi-final, will leave City in June. His contract has run down, and due to long-standing fitness issues, he has not been handed an extension. It is an understandable decision, given City need to keep evolving. Stones will also turn 32 next month. His best times are now behind him. But how good they were, and they should never be forgotten.
