REVEALED: City considered another leading European boss to replace Mancini... but they'll officially move for Pellegrini TODAY

By John Drayton

PUBLISHED: 05:10 EST, 14 May 2013 | UPDATED: 06:41 EST, 14 May 2013


Manchester City will today formally approach Malaga over Manuel Pellegrini, but the Chilean was not the only manager considered to replace Roberto Mancini.

One other top European coach featured on the Etihad regime’s wanted list, but City have decided on 59-year-old Pellegrini.

Sportsmail has learnt that the unnamed manager was not Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho as City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain scoured Europe after a disappointing – but hardly disastrous – season for Mancini.

Chosen one: Manuel Pellegrini will be formally approached by Manchester City today after they decided to go for the Malaga boss over another leading European figure. Jose Mourinho was NOT the other
Chosen one: Manuel Pellegrini will be formally approached by Manchester City today after they decided to go for the Malaga boss over another leading European figure. Jose Mourinho was NOT the other

Chosen one: Manuel Pellegrini will be formally approached by Manchester City today after they decided to go for the Malaga boss over another leading European figure. Jose Mourinho was NOT the other

Final farewell: Roberto Mancini was sacked by Manchester City after ending the season empty-handed

Final farewell: Roberto Mancini was sacked by Manchester City after ending the season empty-handed

Roberto Mancini
Final farewell: Roberto Mancini was sacked by Manchester City after ending the season empty-handed

What does 'holistic' mean?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word 'holistic' is defined as 'of or pertaining to holism; characterised by the tendency to perceive or produce wholes.'

In other words, the importance of the whole, rather than separate parts.

Mancini’s reign as Manchester City manager ended in brutal fashion late last night as he was labelled a failure and sacked a year to the day after he won the Barclays Premier League title.

The Italian, who is expected to net a £7million pay-off, was told he was no longer wanted just hours after taking training for City’s match at Reading tonight.

City, whose statement bizarrely addressed the need for the club to develop a ‘holistic approach’, have yet to seal the finer points of a deal for Malaga’s Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini. Mancini’s assistant Brian Kidd has been put in charge for the last two games of the season.

Mancini is believed to have been told by chief executive Ferran Soriano last night that he was being sacked. Mancini then took a call from chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who is in Abu Dhabi.

Pellegrini, 59, has verbally agreed to take over once City exercise a £3.3m release clause. But he is also being monitored by Barcelona amid concerns over the ability of Tito Vilanova, who has undergone treatment for cancer, to continue as coach at the Nou Camp.

The last walk: Mancini walks to collect his runners-up medal after the FA Cup final defeat to Wigan

The last walk: Mancini walks to collect his runners-up medal after the FA Cup final defeat to Wigan

Mancini
Roberto Mancini

Not enough: Mancini won the Premier League and FA Cup in his time at City, but has been sacked

MANCINI'S RECORD

Premier League: 133 games, 82 wins, 27 draws, 24 losses. Win percentage: 61.7 per cent.

FA Cup: 19 games, 13 wins, three draws, three losses. Win percentage: 68 per cent

League Cup: Nine games, four wins, one draw, four losses.Win percentage: 44.4 per cent.

Champions League: 12 games, three wins, four draws, five losses.Win percentage: 25 per cent.

Europa League: 16 games, 10 wins, three draws, three losses.Win percentage: 62.5 per cent.

Community Shield: Two games, one win, one loss. Win percentage: 50 per cent.

Overall: 191 games, 113 wins, 38 draws, 40 losses.Win percentage: 59.2 per cent.

After City lost the FA Cup final to Wigan on Saturday, the board decided to bring the curtain down on Mancini’s time as quickly as possible to avoid the bad publicity that would have followed if he had stood on the touchline at Reading when people knew he was finished.

The statement on City’s website did not spare the feelings of a man who had delivered City’s first league title in 44 years. It read: ‘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 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.

‘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.’

Bizarrely, City chairman Al Mubarak added: ‘Roberto’s record speaks for itself and he has the respect and gratitude of Sheik Mansour, myself and the board for all his hard work and commitment over the last three-and-a-half years.

‘He has clearly also secured the love and respect of our fans. He has done as he promised and delivered silverware and success, breaking the club’s 35-year trophy drought and securing the title in 2012.

‘I would like to thank him personally and publicly for his dedication to the progress he has overseen and of his support and continued friendship.’

Pellegrini said at the weekend: ‘I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City, I have not signed an agreement with anybody.’

Spice things up: Chilean Manuel Pellegrini is a widely respected coach despite his lack of major trophies

Spice things up: Chilean Manuel Pellegrini is a widely respected coach despite his lack of major trophies

Manuel Pellegrini
Manuel Pellegrini

Yesterday, though, City sporting director Txiki Begiristain was thought to be in Spain speaking again to Pellegrini’s people.

There has already been interest in Mancini from Roma, Napoli and Monaco.

Roberto Mancini’s reign as Manchester City manager was ended in  brutal fashion last night as he was labelled a failure and sacked a year to the day after he won the Barclays Premier League title.

The Italian, who is expected to net a £7million pay-off, was told he was no longer wanted just hours after taking training for City’s match at Reading tonight.

City, whose statement bizarrely addressed the need for the club to develop a ‘holistic approach’, have yet to seal the finer points of a deal for Malaga’s Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini. Mancini’s assistant Brian Kidd has been put in charge for the last two games of the season.

United they stand: A Manchester United fan holds up a RIP Mancini sign outside Old Trafford before the open top bus parade through the city

United they stand: A Manchester United fan holds up a RIP Mancini sign outside Old Trafford before the open top bus parade through the city

Low point: Mancini and Carlos Tevez fell out in Munich

Low point: Mancini and Carlos Tevez fell out in Munich

Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli
Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli

Public falling out: Mancini and Mario Balotelli came to blows in training

MANCINI HIGHS AND LOWS

Roberto Mancini lost his job as Manchester City manager. Here, Sportsmail looks at the highs and lows of the Italian's three-and-a-half years in charge at the Etihad Stadium.

HIGHS

GALACTICOS SIGNED - In his first summer at City following his appointment in place of Mark Hughes in December 2009, Mancini raided La Liga for the likes of Barcelona's Yaya Toure and Valencia's David Silva and Serie A for Mario Balotelli to drive the team's Premier League title bid.

FA CUP WINNERS - City ended their 35-year wait for a major trophy with a 1-0 win over Stoke at Wembley in May 2011. Toure scored the winner 16 minutes from time.

UNITED HIT FOR SIX - City fans were in dreamland at the home of their greatest rivals in October 2011 as Mancini's side thumped Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford. Two goals each from Balotelli and Edin Dzeko and one apiece from Sergio Aguero and Silva hinted at perhaps a changing of the guard in the north-west.

CHAMPIONS - Mancini led City to their first league title in 44 years in one of the most dramatic final days ever witnessed. Trailing 2-1 to QPR and needing to win, Dzeko scored an injury-time equaliser before Aguero grabbed the winner to spark wild celebrations inside the Etihad Stadium. To make it even sweeter, United were the team denied.

NEW CONTRACT - Fresh from the title triumph, Mancini signed a new five-year deal last summer.

LOWS

TEVEZ ON STRIKE - Mancini said Carlos Tevez was "finished" at the club after accusing him of refusing to play as a substitute in the Champions League game against Bayern Munich in September 2011. After a disciplinary hearing, fines, a suspension, an unauthorised return to Argentina, appeals, verbal attacks, no transfer and, finally, an apology, Tevez returned to the City fold five months later.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAILURE - After not making it out of the group in their first season in the Champions League, City failed to even win a game in their six group matches this time around. They picked up just three points to finish bottom of the pool and miss out even on the consolation of a place in the Europa League.

BALOTELLI BUST-UPS - 'Mad Mario's' talent on the pitch was rivalled only by his ability to create headlines off it. A car crash days after signing, bathroom fireworks, dart throwing and training ground clashes made for an eventful two-and-a-half years before he joined AC Milan in January.

TITLE SURRENDERED - Mancini saw his team surrender their crown meekly back to United, who sealed the return of the trophy in April.

FA CUP UPSET - City, overwhelming favourites against relegation-threatened Wigan, contrived to squander their last remaining chance of silverware this season, with Ben Watson's last-gasp header earning the Latics a deserved and famous victory

 

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Another leading European boss is it? Steve McClaren, step on up! Oh, and don't forget your brolly!

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Man City fans should completely boycott next season... this is ridiculous! I am not a Man City fan but even I can see the complete miscarriage of justice, the money men are ruthless and think they can buy anything as they have spent all their lives getting what they want at the right price...Mancini was the best thing that happened at Man City!

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Some journos who savaged Mancini for 3 1/2 years now turning him into a martyr and sharpening their knives for our next coach. Predictable.

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pellegrini step right up sir!!! YOU SIR ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS!!... AND don't like to brag, but last time I checked Pellegrini has more trophies than Moyes...

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New chant at the Etihad - 'Holistic wa-oh, holistic wa-oh, we don't know what it means, but the owners seem quite keen...

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Rafa Benitez

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......and this guy's won nothing. Nothing !! " A holistic approach ". Seriously, this is pathetic.

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It's a sad case. But this is modern Football for you. I never really rated the way he poached our players i.e. Na$ri and Clichy and how he disrespected Le Professeur ... I don't feel sorry for him as a Man, but as a manager I think he done a decent job. However, people comparing him and Alex Ferguson need their head tested, this man never got past the quarter final with Inter. His Champions League record is appalling. People can say whatever they like about Man City being drawn with 2 semi-finalists and 1 finalist... and last seasons finalist. But he should have got more points and beat Ajax. Even though Adebayor is a flaming wnaker (sic), he deserved better at the Emirates. Especially given his Togo bus experience. Really a shady character, don't be fooled by the smile, and people saying he was Balotelli's guardian, no he wasn't... he used Balotelli as a smokescreen to distract people from finding out his poor man-management and tactics.

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Benitez? Oh sorry, you said a TOP European coach.

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Why bring him in when had he last won a trophy as well as being sacked at every club he's been at.

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