Roberto Mancini has paid the price for a trophyless campaign, with Manchester City announcing that the Italian manager has been relieved of his position with the club. The news ends a three-and-a-half year tenure at the Etihad Stadium for the ex-Inter boss, who delivered the FA Cup and Premier League in his time in England.
City’s defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup final last Saturday came as the last nail in Mancini’s coffin, however in truth the Italian looked to be leaving the club some time ago. With City failing to replicate the form that saw them win the Premier League last term for the first time in 44 years, media speculation over his future has been rife.
Given that cross-town rivals Manchester United have ran away with the division, and City failed to get out of the Champions League group stage at the second time of asking, the news won’t have come as a huge surprise to many.
The news was broke today with the reasoning behind Roberto Mancini’s dismissal the lack of achieved objectives in 2012-13.
“It is with regret that Manchester City Football Club announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as 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.”
The Manchester City job will be one of the most difficult and demanding in the country now, with the next manager expected to live up to Roberto Mancini’s best achievements and supersede them. Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini is favourite for the role, but whoever lands the job must enter the position with the understanding that one underachieving campaign will mean dismissal.
Mancini himself was fully aware of this, and admits to talking to big-spending French club Monaco last year when it appeared that his position was under threat.
At the time, City were all-but out of the title race, before United’s dip in form allowed them to sneak back into contention. Had the last-gasp heroics not happened Mancini Roberto would surely have left the club far sooner.
AS Monaco is being touted as a potential destination for Mancini once more. The Southern French side have recently been promoted back to Ligue 1, and are cash rich after being bought over by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.
However, Roberto Mancini may well be stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire by moving to the Stade Louis II. The expectations at Monaco will be just as demanding as at City, and more, and failure to lead the side into title contention at the first time of asking could cost him his job again.
Claudio Ranieri is the current Monaco manager, and it would be cruel on the former Chelsea coach should his countryman replace him after leading the club to promotion.
All-in-all, Manchester City and Roberto Mancini have had a successful relationship together, and the Etihad faithful will not forget the Italian’s achievements in a hurry. For Mancini’s successor to last three-and-a-half years in the City hotseat will require a great deal of success.
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