Honoring Sky-Blue Legends
“They handle the sculptures with care and the quality of the finish is always superb, requiring zero touch-up or filing prior to shipping and installation. This gives me confidence that the final stages of my sculpting processes will be carried out with diligence.”
Manchester, England is home to two of the best soccer teams in the world. Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) hit the field in 1880, just two years after Manchester United was founded. Both teams have been honored with legendary players that will never be forgotten. In September 2021, MCFC unveiled two statues for the recently retired Vincent Kompany and David Silva. With 25 domestic titles and 796 appearances for the team across a combined 12 years, these two players are among the best to ever wear the Sky-Blue shirt.
When the club came across works created by world-renowned sculpture Andy Scott, they knew it was the style they were looking for. His unique sculpting technique utilizing galvanized steel was suited to the city’s industrial heritage and the proud “blue-collar” roots of the club.
Due to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, both sculptures had to be created remotely from the sculptor’s studio in Philadelphia, PA. Because of this, Scott couldn’t visit with the players or see the stadium before working on the project. Though many challenges surfaced during this time, today the statues are seen glistening in the sun and are illuminated with blue lights at night. With a visit to the statues, both Kompany and Silva were impressed with how Scott captured meaningful poses from impactful moments in their career.
Hot-dip galvanizing has proven repeatedly to be a reliable, durable and cost-effective solution to maintaining the legacy of beautiful sculptures around the world. Now installed at the Etihad Stadium, the statues provide a visible reminder of the instrumental role both Kompany and Silva played in contributing to the most decorated era in the club’s 127-year history.