Roberto Mancini won the hearts of Manchester City fans with the trophies, sense of humour and immaculately knotted scarf but the often harsh management style of the sacked Italian may not be missed by some of the players.
Mounting media speculation that the City manager was about to be shown the door after three-and-a-half years at the club finally became reality on Monday when the club announced Mancini had been relieved of his duties.
A year to the day after he leapt up and down to celebrate Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal that snatched a first title in 44 years from Manchester United on goal difference, he slips away two matches before the end of the season.
The supporters who sing, “He comes from Italy to manage Man City, Mancini, Mancini”, will miss the temperamental boss who ended their 35-year wait for a trophy by leading them to the 2011 FA Cup.
From the frantic gesticulations on the touchline to the wild goal celebrations at odds with his neat, tailored clothes, Mancini became a popular figure among City fans.
The club’s statement announcing his departure, however, referred to the need for a “holistic approach to all aspects of football at the club” which perhaps points to some of the more divisive aspects of Mancini’s time at the club.