Manchester City has fired manager Mark Hughes and appointed former
Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini as his successor.
Less than two hours after a 4-3 victory over Sunderland
lifted the club up to sixth in the Premier League standings, City
announced Saturday that Hughes was out.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said that "a return of two wins
in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets
that were agreed and set."
Hughes had been in charge since June last year and had the
backing of the vast wealth of the club's new owners to try and get
City, which last won a major title in 1976, into the top four of
the Premier League.
City spent more than 200 million pounds ($328 million; ?226
million) on new players including Robinho, Carlos Tevez, Gareth
Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Roque Santa Cruz and Joleon
Lescott.
