Jon Macken
A striker whose career was defined by a million-pound move and a famous last-minute goal that etched his name into Manchester City folklore.
Born 1977 (age 49)·English footballer·Birthday: September 7·Generation X
Biography
Jon Macken's journey is a classic football tale of peaks, valleys, and one unforgettable moment. He announced himself at Preston North End, forming a potent strike partnership that fired the club to promotion and made him a coveted talent. His big break was a high-pressure £5 million move to Manchester City, a club in the throes of transformation. While he struggled to secure a regular starting spot amidst starrier signings, he secured immortality with a single swing of his boot. In 2004, coming off the bench in a Manchester derby, he scored a stunning, last-gasp winner against United at Old Trafford. That goal, a perfect volley, forever defines his career. After leaving City, he became a dedicated journeyman across the Football League, eventually moving into management in the non-league game, his name still chanted by City fans for that one perfect strike.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jon was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a famous 90th-minute winning goal for Manchester City against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2004.
- Was part of the Preston North End team that won promotion to the second tier (First Division) in 2000.
- Commanded a transfer fee of £5 million when moving from Preston North End to Manchester City in 2002.
Did You Know?
His winning goal against Manchester United was his first for Manchester City in the Premier League.
He played for ten different clubs in England and Scotland over his professional career.
He began his management career as a player-manager for Northern Premier League side Stalybridge Celtic.
“That goal at Maine Road is the one people remember, and that's fine by me.”
