It is rare that a ground’s greatest player is responsible for its finest moment. Sergio Aguero bids farewell to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, having scored more goals than anyone else there; indeed, having scored more Premier League goals there than anyone else has at any one stadium.
But one, of course, guaranteed him immortality. A Premier League season concludes against Everton now with Aguero's fifth title already assured. His first, in 2012, came courtesy of his final-day, 94th minute goal against QPR. The architect of the most extraordinary drama in City's history feels it will always remain unique, and not just for him.
“It is the best memory that I will ever have in my head,” Aguero said. “I don’t think it will happen again in another country or in this one. It’s not something that can be repeated. It was the best moment of my life. I will always remember this goal like it was yesterday.”
The time remains stencilled into City memories: 93 minutes, 20 seconds. “It was just so crazy,” Aguero recalled. “So amazing. We won more titles after this one but the celebrations that year were different, very different. I remember that night we went with our families and everyone from the club to party. We were all still in shock.
“Then there was two days of crazy partying but with family, people from the club and with team-mates – every time we saw each other we would shout: ‘Champions, champions!’ We were just so happy. It was a unique moment, different to everything else.”
And yet Aguero’s legacy extends far beyond that. There will be a statue of him at the Etihad; defenders may wish a forward defined by quicksilver movement had been more statuesque in the past decade.
He has eluded them at will. Nine of his record 12 Premier League hat-tricks came at the Etihad; that his victims included Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester and Tottenham, plus Bayern Munich in the Champions League, illustrated that he could torment the best. There were seven Etihad goals against Liverpool, four against Manchester United.
“I don’t want them just to remember me for the goal I scored against QPR, but I want them to remember all my best moments in important games,” he added.
He had seven seasons of at least 23 goals, eight of 28 or more. Some 254 of his 258 goals came within his first nine years. “Now looking at the numbers it’s like ‘wow’,” Aguero reflected. “But at the beginning I didn’t think much about the numbers but now I feel so happy for what I have achieved at the club and the goals I have scored.”
He has surpassed his own expectations. “When I arrived here I didn’t expect things to go as well as they did because I was the back-up striker at Atletico Madrid,” he said. “When I started playing here I was very much a No. 9.”
He arrived at 23 and will depart at 33, joining a club with one trophy in 35 years and going as the most decorated player in City’s history. “I leave here feeling very satisfied with what I have achieved here,” he said.
Injuries make it less likely he will be called upon in the Champions League final. Hopefully, though, his last meaningful contribution at the Etihad was not the missed penalty against Chelsea. He could face Everton today, but the farewell will feel different. “Obviously it will be very strange,” he added.
But the boy from Buenos Aires will go as an adopted Mancunian. “Manchester will always be one of my homes,” he said. “I will definitely miss the rain.”
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Army of the Dead
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
