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Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City appoint Chilean as manager

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments730

Pellegrini chose City over other jobs

Manuel Pellegrini has been confirmed as the new manager of Manchester City after signing a three-year contract.

The 59-year-old Chilean arrives from Malaga and fills the role vacated by Roberto Mancini, who was sacked in May.

"I am delighted to accept this hugely exciting opportunity," said Pellegrini, who will begin his new job on 24 June.

"The club has a clear vision for success both on and off the pitch and I am committed to making a significant contribution."

Brian Kidd will remain on the coaching staff, with Ruben Cousillas joining as assistant manager, and goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach Jose Cabello also part of the new backroom set-up. The trio worked under Pellegrini at Malaga.

In an interview with CityTV,external-link he added: "Roberto [Mancini] did a great job here in Manchester, especially to win the title after so many years. We now start a new cycle.

"I had other important offers from important clubs. The most important thing for me is I am sure we can make a great management team.

"I'm sure we have the best squad in the Premier League, wonderful players and can win more titles in the next three or four years in Manchester."

Speaking on the club's two-match post-season visit to the US before Pellegrini's appointment, City midfielder Samir Nasri felt the Chilean's methods would translate well onto the pitch.

"All his teams play attractive football, that is what people want to see," said the 25-year-old.

"You pay for tickets to go to football to see something great, and he is the kind of manager who can do it."

Pellegrini helped Malaga qualify for the Champions League during the 2011-12 season and led them to the quarter-finals of the competition.

He began his managerial career in South America before joining Spanish side Villarreal in 2004 and then moving to Real Madrid in 2009.

However, Pellegrini was dismissed after just one season at the Bernabeu as a team including new signings Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso finished second in La Liga. Malaga named him as their new manager in November 2010.

He was heavily linked with the City job immediately following the dismissal of Mancini, who left after the Blues failed to retain the Premier League title and lost in the FA Cup final to Wigan.

Assistant manager David Platt was among the members of Mancini's backroom staff who departed in the wake of the Italian's sacking.

Pellegrini is the third manager, after Mark Hughes and Mancini, to take charge of City under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group.

The club's chief executive, Ferran Soriano, recently said that he wanted to win five trophies over the next five years.

And City have already signed 28-year-old midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk and winger Jesus Navas, 27, from Sevilla this summer.

Malaga, meanwhile, have announced former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster as Pellegrini's replacement.

Manuel Pellegrini confirmed as Manchester City boss

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730 comments

  • Comment posted by U15732809, at 16:41 14 Jun 2013

    Fair play to him, he's got brilliant hair. Magnificent.

  • Comment posted by U11037156, at 16:33 14 Jun 2013

    The worst kept secret in history

  • Comment posted by kimb, at 16:45 14 Jun 2013

    City fans, you've bagged yourself a great manager. I'm not going to get into comparisons, but this guy is loyal, hard working, has always tended to extract the best from his teams, non theatrical (Nessum Dorma pose aside), astute, liked by his players and his teams play great footie.
    Real Madrid had him, Barca wanted him.
    Possibly the shrewdest move City have made, ever.

  • Comment posted by Spurtle, at 16:32 14 Jun 2013

    Definitely looks like he should be a tenor. He is singing the Nessun Dorma in that picture.

  • Comment posted by U15552426, at 18:49 14 Jun 2013

    And there was me thinking Tony Pulis had the job in the bag.

  • Comment posted by theteabag, at 16:13 14 Jun 2013

    I think he's a quality manager. Next season's shaping up to be interesting, to say the least. I can't wait.

  • Comment posted by paullakesknees, at 19:51 14 Jun 2013

    @304.olly34

    Pellegrini spent the money at Madrid? I think not......was given a bunch of players he had no say in buying and took them to a record points total. But, hey, why let facts get in the way of having a pop at City. Took both Villareal and Malaga from obscurity to the latter stages of the Champions League. Yep, dreadful appointment

  • Comment posted by U15625454, at 16:29 14 Jun 2013

    This is full of trolls

  • Comment posted by U15310081, at 17:23 14 Jun 2013

    @ Best 7

    They obviously had to give Moyes a 6 year contract to put an end to the feeding frenzy from the top European clubs all vying for his signature. United were obviously getting sick to death of the endless media speculation linking him with one big-name club after another. Well done United

  • Comment posted by anirockz, at 16:22 14 Jun 2013

    Mourinho Moyes Manuel - Let the games begin

  • Comment posted by bluemoon_noisy, at 17:04 15 Jun 2013

    @ 641 olly

    You could also have pointed out that in 98/99 when in the third tier of English football our ave home attendance was over 34000! I believe that is still a post-war record.... So many plastics :)

  • Comment posted by Meadowender, at 20:11 14 Jun 2013

    @Vox Populi we may not know what will happen in 5 years etc. but Glazer took a debt free club and used it as security to borrow the money to complete the takeover. He is now using the profits to pay off the debt and if it goes wrong the club are at risk not him. If it goes well then he gets ownership of the club at no cost or risk to himself. As Tanglefoot says 'potentially' he has done more harm.

  • Comment posted by U15667702, at 18:22 14 Jun 2013

    MCFC can't do anything right in the eyes of these negative critics who state their opinion with no substantial evidence whatsoever to back up what they're saying... very foolish!
    These same people will disappear from these boards for days/weeks on end when Pellegrini and MCFC come and trample all over their club in their own backyards only to reappear claiming they were cheated etc.

  • Comment posted by U1677408, at 21:22 14 Jun 2013

    369 [ Hermes ]

    "Even the poorest people in Manchester live nowhere near 3rd world conditions"

    I don't know - they're only a forty minute drive from Liverpool!

    [ Sorry, couldn't resist : ) ]

  • Comment posted by livingmercerway, at 20:23 14 Jun 2013

    #309

    I find the sheer ignorance of these remarks breathtaking. I have followed City for fifty years (as my father and grandfathers did).
    You confuse 'history' with 'success' - City fans have enjoyed many successes but their dogged loyalty and humorous acceptance of the many dark and crazy events that have befallen their teams over the years are acknowledged by all true fans.
    You know nothing.

  • Comment posted by U15735345, at 19:22 14 Jun 2013

    Never saw this coming...... Bbc always gets the breaking stories. Did mcnulty have a hand this?

  • Comment posted by Nigel, at 18:01 14 Jun 2013

    I wish him all the best. He took my club here in Argentina, San Lorenzo, to a league title, an international trophy and set the record for consecutive victories(13) in the Argentine league.
    Personality wise, he'll be a better deal than the temperamental, histrionics of his predecessor

  • Comment posted by U15596684, at 16:21 14 Jun 2013

    His name always makes me hungry

  • Comment posted by dribbler, at 17:13 15 Jun 2013

    @623 michael; I agree, Wednesday are a sleeping giant with a massive pitch and a great stadium. Although I don't support any of these teams, for me the top three sets of loyal fans (proven by attendances in their lean years) are, in no order; Man City, Wednesday and Newcastle. The big problem on this forum is that so many "fans" are ridiculously biased and blinkered, which soon becomes boring!

  • Comment posted by lance_is_free, at 16:51 15 Jun 2013

    #639

    The delay in completing the contract was nothing to do with either Man City nor Pellegrini. It was down to Malaga. That has been widely reported. You seem to have been obsessed about this over the past few days.

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