Manchester City part company with Mancini

Two days after losing the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic FC, Manchester City FC have parted company with manager Roberto Mancini.

The move follows City's 1-0 defeat at Wembley Stadium on Saturday – their second FA Cup showpiece appearance in three seasons – with the team also set to finish second in this term's Premier League. Mancini, 48, guided the north-west club to their first top-flight title in 44 years exactly 12 months ago, Sergio Agüero's added-time goal on the last day of the campaign ensuring they pipped Manchester United FC to the championship.

However, United regained supremacy this season and are 13 points clear of City at the summit. Mancini, who took over from Mark Hughes in December 2009, led City into the UEFA Champions League for the past two years but failed to take them out of the group stage on both occasions. City were unable to win any of their Group D games in the 2012/13 competition, finishing bottom of the section behind finalists Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid CF and AFC Ajax.

"It is with regret that Manchester City announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as manager," read a club statement. "This has been a difficult decision for the owner, chairman and board to make. Despite everyone's best efforts, the club failed to achieve any of its stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League."

Assistant manager Brian Kidd takes interim charge for Tuesday's match against Reading FC, Sunday's meeting with Norwich City FC and the post-season tour of the United States.