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Roberto Mancini sacked by Manchester City

By on May 13, 2013
Something to ponder; Manchester City sack manager Roberto Mancini

Something to ponder: Manchester City sack manager Roberto Mancini

Manchester City have finally axed manager Roberto Mancini, a year to the day after Mancini lead City to their first Premier League title in 44 years.  After the 72 hour wait for City’s Abu Dhabi-owner’s and 24 hour after Mancini was told he would be shown the door at City by chairman Khaldoon al Mubara, the Italian’s sacking has been confirmed.  City’s owners’ claimed Mancini had failed to meet any of their targets or the season (except Chapions League qualification), resulting in the 48-year-old’s sacking.

Mancini’s City future was in doubt after City’s shock 1-0 loss to Wigan in the FA Cup final, meaning City will go without silverware this season.  Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini was reported to have been approached by City after their FA Cup defeat, and with Mancini out the Chilean looks set to move to Manchester.

Assistant manager Brian Kidd will take over for City’s remaining two Premier League matches, unless a replacement for Mancini is found before Sunday.  Kidd has been Mancini’s assistant throughout the Italian’s three-and-a-half year reign, after previously being City’s youth team coach.

Mancini arrived at Manchester City in 2009 as a replacement for Mark Hughes, and proved an inspired choice, winning City the FA Cup in his first full season with the club, their first major title since 1976.  In the 2011/2012 season Mancini made history when City won the league for the first time in 44 years, after beating rivals Manchester United on goal differential.  But during the 2012/2013 season Mancini reportedly lost control of the dressing room, and after coming in second in the Premier League behind Manchester United, and losing to Wigan in the FA Cup final, City owners were forced to wield the axe on Mancini. Amazingly, the Italian never managed to guide City out of the Champions League group stage, leaving City’s Abu Dhabi owner’s wish of becoming a dominant European force unsatisfied.

A statement on City’s official website read:  “It is with regret that Manchester City Football Club announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as Manchester City Manager.

“This has been a difficult decision for the owner, Chairman and Board to make and it is the outcome of a planned end of season review process that has been brought forward in light of recent speculation and out of respect for Roberto and his extensive contributions to the Football Club.

“Despite everyone’s best efforts, the Club has failed to achieve any of its stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. This, combined with an identified need to develop a holistic approach to all aspects of football at the Club, has meant that the decision has been taken to find a new manager for the 2013/14 season and beyond.

“Assistant Manager Brian Kidd will take interim responsibility for the remaining two games of the season and the post-season tour to the United States.”

It is unlikely that Mancini will be unemployed for long, and the Italian is expected to receive offers from AS Roma, Napoli, and Monaco.

 

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.