Mancini reign ended by Inter

Italian champions FC Internazionale Milano have decided to sack coach Roberto Mancini just ten days after he delivered the club's third consecutive Scudetto.

Moratti meeting
The 43-year-old met Inter's president Massimo Moratti on Tuesday afternoon and today the Nerazzurri officially announced their decision. The club's statement read: "FC Internazionale have dismissed coach Roberto Mancini, in particular because of his declaration after the match between Inter and Liverpool FC on 11 March 2008." That night, when his side were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the first knockout round, Mancini announced that he would leave Inter at the end of the season. "I think that the next two and half months will be my last in charge of Inter," he said.

Cup success
The former ACF Fiorentina and S.S. Lazio coach led Inter to three straight Serie A titles and four consecutive Coppa Italia finals, although they were defeated by AS Roma in the last two of those. But Mancini could not obtain similar results in the UEFA Champions League, and Moratti's desire to win Europe's premier club competition is believed to be the reason why the president has decided to make a change.