FA Cup: Manchester City cult hero Uwe Rosler returns, 20 years on

Some things have changed quite a bit in the 20 years since Manchester City fans met Uwe Rosler for the first time - that mullet has gone for a start.

City, too, are almost unrecognisable, having gone from being perennially skint and struggling to stay up, to big-spending trophy hunters who are chasing a domestic treble this season.

Their fans are still singing about Rosler, though, just as they were when he made his debut on 5 March 1994 as an unknown and unheralded former East German international with a bad haircut.

It took him less than 90 minutes to win them over, and start a mutual love affair that has lasted ever since. City's fans have seen many more talented players than Rosler in recent years, but few have earned more affection.

Before the end of Rosler's first appearance, which saw his backheel set up David Rocastle for the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at QPR, they chanted the German striker's name for the first time., external

To the tune of the Pet Shop Boys anthem 'Go West', they will be singing 'Uwe, Uwe Rosler' again on Sunday, when the 45-year-old Wigan manager takes his side to Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup.

There are some very good reasons why Rosler says it will be an "emotional moment" for him too.

For Rosler's return to City is not just the tale of an old favourite coming back to face his former club - it goes far deeper than that. Their unique bond comes not through past glories but after helping each other through some dark days during the last two decades.

It started on the pitch: Rosler's industry and ion - and goals - were rare reasons for City fans to get excited during the mid-90s, when they tumbled two divisions in three seasons.

In the words of former chairman Francis Lee, who was in charge when Rosler ed, he was "the hero they had been waiting for".

Twenty years ago, Lee had just ousted his predecessor Peter Swales at Maine Road after months of fighting for control of the club. The boardroom battle had taken its toll on a team that was fighting for survival at the bottom end of what was then called the Premiership.

"We had no money but we were desperate for a striker," Lee told BBC Sport. "The agent Jerome Anderson offered us the chance to take Uwe on trial.

"Uwe had been at Middlesbrough for a couple of weeks but they did not want him so he went back to . We brought him back over and he played in a reserve game for us against Burnley on a Wednesday night.

"The manager Brian Horton and I watched him play and at half-time Brian said to me 'what do you think">