Manchester City on Saturday unveiled permanent statues of club legends Vincent Kompany and David Silva at the Etihad Stadium. Emerging from darkness at daybreak, the statues were revealed to fans around the world.
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Situated on the east side of the Etihad Stadium, the large scale statues of Kompany and Silva were created by award-winning sculptor Andy Scott and have been constructed using thousands of welded pieces of galvanised steel.
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At night-time the statues will be specially illuminated with blue tinted lighting. Born and raised in Glasgow and a graduate of the city’s School of Art, Scott is one of the most respected sculptors of his generation and is known for his large-scale figurative pieces, which he creates by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern fabrication techniques. His portfolio of more than 80 contemporary projects can be found around the world, including the famous ‘Kelpies’ near Falkirk in Scotland and ‘Beacon of Hope’ in Belfast.
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The Kompany and Silva projects were conducted entirely remotely from June 2020, through to creation, completion and transportation of the pieces by Etihad Cargo from Philadelphia to Manchester earlier this month.
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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.
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Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Fans at today’s game are among the very first people to see the statues in person and up close, and I hope they provoke memories of the truly magical moments created by both men over 10 years. With work already underway, we are all looking forward to honouring the legacy of Sergio Aguero in the same way next year, giving generations to come the opportunity to be reminded of the era of city football to which all three men were so integral.”
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Vincent Kompany added: “I didn’t really expect to be recognised by such a great club in that way. My wife is from Manchester, my kids are born in Manchester, and they go back to a place where they can see something that represents what their Dad has achieved that is something that I can’t describe."
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David Silva commented: “Being at City changed my life. I’m proud of what we did together and I feel emotional that it has been recognised like this. When I first saw the statue, I felt good, I thought it was like me. This statue really represents the way I like to play, I love the pose the sculptor has chosen. It really reminds me of those times I was on the pitch playing and that moment when I had to find the striker.”
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"The first time I saw the statue I couldn’t believe how big it was," said Kompany, "but then again, I’m a big boy, so fair enough! And then especially the pose, for me it means a lot.”
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