The current club badge was adopted in 1997, the exact reason of the badge change is believed to have been down to problems copyrighting the pre-1997 badge with the club stating: "an unsatisfactory situation had developed at Manchester City regarding the licensing out of the round badge on an ad hoc basis which has led to a number of problems with counterfeit goods. This we felt was leading to a devaluing of the Manchester City brand, and consequently its badge in both the modern market and in football." However some claim this is not the true reason for the new badge.
The badge is based on the arms of Manchester City Council, and consists of a shield in front of a golden eagle. The eagle is an old heraldic symbol of the city of Manchester; a golden eagle was added to the city's badge in 1958 (but has since been removed), representing the growing aviation industry. The shield features a ship on its upper half representing the Manchester Ship Canal, and three diagonal stripes in the lower half, for the city's three rivers. The bottom of the badge bears the Latin motto Superbia in Proelio which translates as Pride in Battle. Above the eagle and shield are three stars, which are purely decorative. Reports in 2008 suggested the club was planning to add "Thai symbols" to a new crest, however as of 2010 the club has no intention of revising the current badge. Although the element of the eagle in the new badge design was not well received by famous City fan Noel Gallagher, "It looks like the Lazio badge with that eagle on it. The last badge had a little ship on it going down the Manchester Ship Canal and the rose of Lancashire. When was the last time you saw an eagle in Manchester?"
