Just eight days after Manchester United announced the retirement of their most successful ever manager, their neighbours and closest rivals Manchester City have parted company with the man who delivered them their first top flight title in forty-four years. Roberto Mancini will leave his post with immediate effect, less than forty eight hours after watching his expensively assembled side lose the FA Cup final to Roberto Martinez’s Wigan Athletic.

Those with a keen knowledge of football at the highest level had been discussing the likelihood of the Italian’s demise for some time, a few having been fairly certain that his time in charge at Eastlands would indeed come to an end this summer, and so it has proved.

Many will look at Roberto Mancini’s time at Manchester City, see the FA Cup triumph of 2010/11

–the club’s first trophy (apart from finishing top of the Championship in 01/02) since winning the League Cup way back in 1976 – and the afore mentioned Premier League title, won in such dramatic fashion at the end of last season, and feel that the City board have been harsh with their decision.

Indeed, many will feel, given the fact that major change is afoot across town at Old Trafford and another managerial change seems certain at Stamford Bridge, that perhaps City would have been wiser to stick by Mancini, use stability as a weapon and try to take full advantage of the insecurity created by the changes of leadership occurring around them. Continue reading →