Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has left Turkish side Galatasaray after less than a season in charge.
In a statement the club said:
“Our relationship with the coach Roberto Mancini and his contract of employment, which was signed on 1 October, 2013, has been terminated by mutual agreement,” said Galatasaray.
“We wholeheartedly thank him for his success and achievements and wish him happiness in his next mission.”
Under Mancini’s guidance, the Turkish giants finished runners-up in the Super Lig to Fenerbahce and won the Turkish Cup. They also reached the Champions League knockout stages, going out to Chelsea, in what was a great achievement as Gala were dead and buried in the Champions League when he took over, but somehow Mancini masterminded a comeback that saw they overtake Juventus on matchday six to advance at the Italian’s expense.
In appears to have been a dispute over the club’s future direction that sealed Mancini’s departure as he told Gazzetta dello Sport:
“As a coach I understand the demands of the club. However, when I accepted the coaching post, Gala’s aims were different.”
He added: “In the past eight months, despite enduring a challenging start, I have done my job pushed by passion and by hunger which has resulted in the team qualifying for the Champions League, lifting the Turkish Cup and finishing second in the league.
“It’s with sadness that I leave Istanbul and the club’s fantastic supporters.”
The question now is where will Roberto Mancini go next? He has been strongly linked with a return to Serie A and his former club Lazio, but could he be tempted with a return to the Premier League? The only opening right now is at Southampton after Mauricio Pochettino left to take over at Spurs. But that seems like a sinking ship with all their top young players looking to leave.
Managers expected to be under fire this season are Alan Pardew at Newcastle and Sam Allardyce and West Ham. Newcastle is another disaster but West Ham might be different. It’s in London, and a team that is moving to the Olympic stadium so they will need a big name coach and players. Will we see Mancini singing “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”?
