Mancini signs new five-year Manchester City deal

The Italian boss has committed his future to the club after overseeing a landmark Premier League victory in 2011-12, and declared himself "delighted" to have renewed

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has signed a new five-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2017.

As exclusively revealed by Goal.com, City opened discussions over a three-year deal with Mancini in May, but the length of the agreement has been improved considerably following negotiations with the Italian and his agent.

And the former Inter boss revealed his happiness to have penned a new deal, telling the club's official website: "I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City for a further five years. 

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"The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous. Manchester City is a fantastic football club, from the owner, chairman, Board and the executive team, through to the players, staff and fans. 

"I am very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead."

Mancini had reportedly been keen to sign a new deal as early as March but, as Goal.com revealed then, talks were put on ice until the summer as the Abu Dhabi-based owners waited to assess City's progress.

However, following the club's landmark league title win, their first in 44 years, the Italian has been backed as the man to bring Champions League success to the Etihad Stadium - quashing reports that he had been headhunted to coach the Russia national team on an exorbitant contract.

City's interim chief executive officer John MacBeath expressed his belief that the former Inter boss has evidenced his pedigree in both the English and European game.

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"Roberto's managerial credentials have been well proven in Europe for many years and in leading a team which has won the FA Cup and an unforgettable Barclays Premier League title in successive seasons, his ability to manage in the English domestic game is also undisputed," he said.

"This new agreement allows Roberto to focus on the challenge of guiding a team which is capable not only of defending the Premier League title, but one which can compete for European honours."