Manchester City sack manager Mancini

Roberto Mancini relieved of his duties after team fails to defend its league title despite boasting star line-up.

Roberto Mancini
Mancini led City to the FA Cup win, ending a 35-year wait for a trophy, and a Premier League title [Reuters]

Manchester City, the British football club, has sacked manager Roberto Mancini after his team’s failure to defend its Premier League title.

City had also failed to progress from the group stage of the Champions League for a second successive season, despite boasting one of the most expensively assembled squads in the world.

Fellow English club, Manchester United, regained the title last month with four games to spare and City were then beaten 1-0 by Wigan Athletic in last Saturday’s FA Cup final.

“It is with regret that Manchester City Football Club announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as Manchester City Manager,” the club said in a statement.

“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”

Man City statement

“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.”

Former Inter Milan manager Mancini joined City in December 2009, succeeding Mark Hughes, and that season led them to a fifth-place finish which was at the time their best ever Premier League showing.

The club made sizable investments in its team before the next season, bringing in the likes of David Silva and Yaya Toure, and went on to finish third, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, and winning the FA Cup, ending a 35-year wait for a trophy.

Having been criticised for a conservative approach to games, Mancini brought in Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri for the next season.

In a season that included a 6-1 victory over then champions Manchester United, City narrowly defeated their Manchester rivals on goal difference to end the season on top.

City’s defence of the title, however, never got off the ground this season.

Assistant manager Brian Kidd will be in charge for City’s remaining two games of the season and the post-season tour to the United States.

Source: News Agencies