Roberto Mancini was sacked by Manchester City on Monday, a year after leading the club out of the shadow of Manchester United and to their first English league title since 1968.
Following is a brief summary of the highs and lows of Mancini's three-and-a-half seasons in charge.
EARLY FRUSTRATION
Former Inter Milan manager Mancini takes over from sacked Mark Hughes in December 2009 after the Welshman fails to deliver the kind of results expected by the club's Abu Dhabi owners after £100m was spent signing the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry.
Mancini, who ingratiates himself with fans by wearing a City scarf to go with his expensive designer suits, keeps the team in the hunt for a Champions League qualifying spot.
A 1-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on the penultimate game of the season sees them miss out to the Londoners and they enter the Europa League instead after coming fifth.
City also reached the League Cup semi-final.
PROGRESS
Mancini's first full season in charge follows another pre-season transfer splurge with Yaya Toure, David Silva and Mario Balotelli all arriving at the Etihad Stadium.
After some tricky moments in mid-season, Mancini's City begin to click. They beat Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final and go on to beat Stoke City in the final with Yaya Toure's goal ending a 35-year wait for a trophy.
City never really challenge for the league title but win five of their last six matches to finish third and qualify for the Champions League.
NOISY NEIGHBOURS END UNITED DOMINANCE
Mancini's side mount their first real title challenge, beginning the season with a blaze of goals, but it all looks in vain as Manchester United seem poised to hold off the challenge of the club their manager once famously described as like "noisy neighbours".
However, United stumble in the run-in and City roar back into contention, needing only to beat Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season to clinch the title.
They trail 2-1 before an incredible late rally sees Sergio Aguero fire a stoppage time winner to seal the title for City on goal difference in one of the most dramatic days ever witnessed in the Premier League.
Mancini is rewarded with a lucrative five-year contract reportedly worth 25 million pounds after City's 93-goal season.
FEEBLE DEFENCE
City are expected to back up their first title for 44 years with another but things do not go to plan in the 2012-13 season. The goals stop flowing, City suffer defeats to the likes of Southampton, and United take back the title with four games to spare.
FA CUP SHOCK
City cannot even satisfy themselves with the consolation of an FA Cup triumph as they are stunned in the final by Wigan Athletic, a team put together on a shoestring budget compared to the millions of pounds spent by City.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAILURE
The biggest criticism of Mancini was his lack of progress in the Champions League. In City's first season (2011-12) they finish third in their group behind Bayern Munich and Napoli, failing to reach the knockout rounds.
The following season is even worse. As English champions, they end up bottom of their group behind Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax, picking up a woeful haul of three points.
Despite a collection of world-class talent, City look tactically naive and questions are asked about Mancini's pedigree against Europe's finest thinkers.
PLAYER CONFLICTS
Mancini often appeared to be struggling to control a dressing room full of millionaires with large egos, as shown by the Carlos Tevez affair in the title-winning season.
Tevez refused to warm-up during a Champions League match at Bayern Munich in September 2011 and Mancini says the Argentine would never play for City again. Tevez is suspended and fined by the club, pending an investigation, but returns in Feb. 2012 after publicly apologising.
The combustible Mario Balotelli's erratic behaviour also tests the authority of Mancini. He shows admirable patience, before eventually selling him in Jan. 2013, although significantly the Italian's departure leaves City short in the goal scoring department.
At pressurised moments, such as defeats by Southampton and Sunderland, Mancini is quick to criticise the performance of some of his senior players such as Joe Hart and Samir Nasri for mistakes, something United's Alex Ferguson or Arsenal's Arsene Wenger never do in public.
MISSING OUT ON VAN PERSIE
Before the defence of their Premier League crown Mancini is clearly keen to sign Arsenal's Robin Van Persie but is beaten to his signature by Ferguson and he is not shy in making public his frustrations with the club's transfer policy.
It proves a key moment in the title race as the Dutchman scores 25 league goals for United as they seal a 20th title with ease.
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