Roberto Mancini sacked as Manchester City manager
Roberto Mancini has been sacked as Manchester City manager after three-and-a-half years at the helm.
A statement said
he "had failed to achieve any of the club's targets, with the
exception of qualification for next season's Champions League".
Assistant Brian Kidd will take charge for the final two games of the season and the summer tour to America.
Malaga's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini has been strongly tipped to replace Mancini.
On Sunday night 59-year-old Pellegrini, who spent one season in charge at Real Madrid in 2009-10, insisted he
was not about to become the new City boss.
"I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester
City, I haven't signed any agreement with anybody," he said after
Malaga's goalless Primera Division draw with Sevilla.
City thanked Mancini for the job he had done, with
chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak saying: "Roberto's record speaks for
itself, he secured the love and respect of fans.
"He has done as he promised and delivered silverware and success."
City added in their statement that it was "a difficult
decision", explaining it was "the outcome of a planned end of season
review process that has been brought forward in light of recent
speculation".
