Roberto Mancini sacked as Manchester City manager

Roberto Mancini has been sacked as Manchester City manager a year to the day since winning the Premier League.

The club said he "had failed to achieve any of the club's targets, with the exception of qualification for next season's Champions League".

Assistant Brian Kidd will take charge for the final two games of the season and a tour to America in late May.

Malaga's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini has been strongly tipped to replace Mancini.

On Sunday night, 59-year-old Pellegrini, who spent one season in charge at Real Madrid in 2009-10, insisted there was no deal in place for him to become the new City boss.

"I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City," he said after Malaga's goalless Primera Division draw with Sevilla. "I haven't signed any agreement with anybody."

In a statement, City thanked 48-year-old Mancini for the job he had done since joining the club in December 2009.

But the club said the failure to hit "stated targets" and the need to "develop a holistic approach to all aspects of football at the club" prompted the sacking.