Manchester City have announced that Manuel Pellegrini has signed a contract extension until 2017.
The Chilean’s previous deal was due to expire next summer and there was speculation that the Etihad Stadium bosses were lining up Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola to replace him.
But City Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano feels that Pellegrini, who arrived from Malaga in 2013, is the right man to take the club forward and help them challenge for major European honours.
Soriano told the club’s official 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.”
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Pellegrini, who guided the Citizens to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, added: “I am proud to manage Manchester City FC and am therefore very pleased to have agreed this contract.
“I have a very good quality group of players and a great team of people to work with on and off the field and at all levels of the Club.
“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.”
Guardiola is still expected to leave Bayern when his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season. He has previously been tipped for the hotseats at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
City have also handed new deals to three of Pellegrini’s backroom staff – assistant manager Ruben Cousillas, goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach Jose Cabello.
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