Mancini to stand down as Inter coach

Roberto Mancini will stand down as FC Internazionale Milano coach at the end of the season despite having four years left on his contract.

European exit
The 43-year-old broke the news in the conference which followed Inter's 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool FC, a loss which ended their UEFA Champions League participation in the first knockout round once more. Mancini, a former Italy striker, said: "The next two and half months will be my last in charge of Inter. I'd already told the boys and it's only right to let everybody know. I'd already made this decision and it doesn't depend on tonight's defeat."

Wait over
Appointed in July 2004, Mancini led the Nerazzurri to Coppa Italia glory in his first season, their first domestic honour since the 1989 Scudetto. Then, after Juventus were stripped of their 2005/06 title and AC Milan suffered a points penalty, Inter were finally crowned champions of Italy again. Mancini repeated that success in 2006/07 and his side are on course to complete a hat-trick of Serie A wins this term, although the black and blue half of Milan have failed to replicate their domestic dominance on the European stage.