Manchester City fans are gathering in the city centre ahead of a parade to celebrate their club’s historic Premier League title triumph.
The Blues became the first team in the history of English football to win fourth back-to-back league titles thanks to a 3-1 victory over West Ham United last Sunday (May 19).
While City fell short against rivals Manchester United in yesterday’s FA Cup final, City fans still have plenty to celebrate. Pep Guardiola’s team will take to the streets this evening (Sunday) to show off their silverware in a victory tour around the city.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola’s full-time mood should give Man City crowd answers after new contract revelation
The bus parade is expected to last from 7.30pm until around 9pm owing to the Greater Manchester Run taking place earlier in the day with runners finishing the race along Deansgate.
Huge crowds are expected to turn out to see the four-time champions lift the Premier League trophy from an open-top bus that will travel from the National Football Museum through Cathedral Gardens and along Deansgate, stopping at several points along the way.
Yet while spirits are sure to be high, the weather will try to spoil the fun. The Met Office has issued Manchester with a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, lasting from midday until 8pm tonight.
We’ll bring you live updates from the parade in the blog below.
21:35Amie Wilson
Heading home
Fans are starting to make their way home after the players headed inside the Hilton.
21:27Amie Wilson
More fireworks
The parade is bought to an end by another firework display to light up the Manchester sky.
21:22Amie Wilson
Nathan Ake’s honest admission
On the defence he said:
“I’ve got to be honest, this season we could have done better , there was a few ocassions where maybe we wern’t ourselves or the best of ourselves but I thin overall we did really well, we can be proud of ourselves. If we can improve even more next season you never know what can happen.”
21:16Amie Wilson
The best view in the house
Fans have found a unique way of getting a better view of the squad.
21:06Amie Wilson
Ohh Kevin De Bruyne
The buses have arrived at the destination of the Parade.
21:02Amie Wilson
Erling Haaland with the trophy
This is the City striker’s second Premier League title in as many years.
20:52Amie Wilson
No John Stones dancing tonight
Despite rumours of the defender having the best moves of the squad, we won’t be seeing his dancing tonight.
He told the club’s official channels when asked: “Not on here, not on here!”
20:45Amie Wilson
Haaland and Foden front and centre
The duo are leading the celebrations at the front of the bus.
20:40Amie Wilson
The scenes as the buses made their way
Our reporter Thomas George was on hand to catch the scenes as the buses made their way past.
20:36Amie Wilson
The Trophy lift
It’s an evening that everyone in attendance won’t forget in a long time.
20:28Amie Wilson
Ruben Dias on ‘incredible’ achievement
“It’s incredible, it’s special, it’s never been done before. It’s time to celebrate now with our people. We were looking forward to it and now is the time.
“It’s special for me individually of course, but what we are doing as a team it just goes beyond any expectation anyone has and I think that at the end of the day is the thing I’m most proud of.”
Kyle Walker then interupts him with a rendition of ‘City’s won four in a row!”
20:22Amie Wilson
And they’re off
The buses make their way down the parade route.
20:21Amie Wilson
Bernardo Silva talks
Bernardo Silva has spoken to the club’s official channels from the bus – here’s what he had to say:
“Very happy, thank you very much for coming it’s a pleasure to be here once again and it’s great to see the support these fans give us every day and once again we can celebrate. So thank you very much.
“(4 in a row) was a record we wanted to go after, something that was never done before, we are so, so proud, it was so difficult, so we’re very, very proud of this work.
20:13Amie Wilson
Firework display
The players are almost ready to leave on the coaches, they’ve been greeted by a firwork display.
20:11Amie Wilson
Fans are lining the street
Thousands are awaiting their heroes.
20:07Amie Wilson
Out come the flares
The party is really getting started now!
20:02Richard Cusack
Grealish loving the parade so far
Man City’s winger is enjoying the entertainment, which is being provided by youngster Jacey Mae.
19:58Amie Wilson
A promise kept
This family couldn’t miss this year’s parade, despite the weather.
19:49Amie Wilson
A reminder of the route
He is the route that the City bus will be taking with the parade starting at 7.30pm. The buses are expected at the Hilton hotel where there will be large screens and stage shows at around 9pm.
19:45James Holt
Spirits are high in Manchester this evening!
Thousands of excited fans are lining the streets
19:41Richard Cusack
Fans waiting for parade
Our reporter on location, Tom George, is waiting with supporters who are anticipating catching a glimpse of their heroes on the parade.
19:39Rob Williams
Some great images of the parade crowds now
Lots of bananas and blue flags on display.
19:39Richard Cusack
Parade route and timings
City’s players and coaching staff are due to travel through Exchange Square and then down Deansgate with the parade expected to reach its conclusion outside the Hilton Hotel at approximately 9pm.
Interviews will then be held with players and Pep Guardiola.
19:28Rob Williams
Lifelong Blues fans
All out braving the rain.
19:26Rob Williams
Big screen
At the junction of Deansgate and St Mary’s Gate.
19:25Rob Williams
Crowds gathering now
This is the scene at Exchange Square
19:24Rob Williams
Some images of fans out and about
It’s soggy out there, but the crowds are starting to build now.
19:17Amie Wilson
Anyone for merchandise?
Our reporters Tom George and Joe Bray are in the middle of the action throughout the evening.
Stay here for the latest.
So anyone up for some Champions merchandise to start?
19:03Amie Wilson
Fans are braving the weather
It may be nearly June, but that doesn’t mean that the Manchester weather will play ball. But that won’t stop the party!
18:49Amie Wilson
Good evening
Anyone up for a night of celebration?
While yesterday’s trip to Wembley might have ended in disappointment – we won’t dwell on that! It’s been another season to remember at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City were crowned Premier League Champions for a record fourth time in a row.
Pep Guardiola and his Man City squad are back on the open top bus celebrating the season with the Premier League trophy. Stay with us throughout the night for live updates with all the colour and celebrations.