Roberto Mancini is sacked by Manchester City

Mancini has been sacked for failure to meet targets. Picture: PA

The 48-year-old Italian’s future had been the subject of intense scrutiny over the last few days with Malaga’s Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini widely tipped to take over. Mancini learned last night he had been relieved of his duties after failing to achieve any of the club’s “stated targets” for the season.

The news came exactly a year to the day City won the Premier League in dramatic circumstances on the final day of last season.

It is Mancini’s failure to build on that achievement that has seen his three-and-a-half year tenure brought to an end.

A club statement read: “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.”

Mancini replaced Mark Hughes in December 2009, winning the FA Cup in 2011 and City’s first top-flight league title for 44 years in 2012. But this season saw rivals Manchester United reclaim the title with ease, City fail to get out of the Champions League group stages and, on Saturday, lose to underdogs Wigan in the FA Cup final.

Assistant manager Brian Kidd will take interim responsibility for the remaining two games of the season, starting with tonight’s match at Reading.