Manuel Pellegrini has signed a one-year extension to his
current Manchester City deal, which means he’ll stay with the club until the
summer of 2017, the club have announced. They’ve also announced extensions for
the backroom staff brought in by the Chilean when he arrived from Malaga in
2013.
Towards the end of last season, there were rumours
Pellegrini wouldn’t live to see the start of the 2015/16 season, but the club
stuck by him after a trophyless campaign, and have agreed an extension on a
deal which was due to expire next summer.
There are also extensions signed and sealed for Ruben
Cousillas (joint assistant manager), goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and
Jose Cabello, who joined the club two years ago.
Some will be left wondering where this leaves the pursuit
of Pep Guardiola, with it being rumoured for some time now that The Blues were
chasing the Spanish manager for when his Bayern Munich contract expires next
summer, a date which coincided with Pellegrini’s expiry date.
Speaking about the extension, the man himself said “I
am proud to manage Manchester City FC and am therefore very pleased to have
agreed this contract.”
“I am focussed on the coming season and confident that
my team and I will respond to the constant support shown to us by everyone
including of course our fantastic fans.”
Meanwhile, chief executive Ferran Soriano told the club’s
website “We are delighted to reach this agreement with Manuel Pellegrini
who has already contributed so much to the development of Manchester City in
his first two years with us and we look forward to further progress in the
seasons ahead.”
“This agreement allows Manuel to focus on the
challenge of guiding a team capable of both fighting for domestic titles and
competing for European honours.”
Manuel Pellegrini has won a league title and a League Cup
during his spell with Manchester City so far.
