To suggest that Roberto Mancini's three-and-a-half-year stint at Manchester City has been turbulent would be an understatement.
The Italian boss has taken the rough with the smooth following problems within the dressing room and training ground bust-ups, while also guiding the team to FA Cup glory and ending the club's 44-year wait for a league title.
Here, Sports Mole looks back over Mancini's time at the Etihad Stadium following the club's decision to call time on the 48-year-old's career with the North West outfit.
December 2009 - Mancini appointed
Outgoing manager Mark Hughes paved the way for Mancini to take the reins at the club midway through the 2009-10 campaign following over a year out of the game. The Italian arrived at the club with high expectations from the club's Emirati owners, who made it clear that they were willing to invest in the summer transfer window. Mancini led the side to four consecutive victories when he took the hotseat and eventually secured fifth place in the table by the end of the season - City's highest ever league finish at that time.
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Summer 2010 - City sign big-name trio
The 48-year-old was promised funds at the end of the season, and the club delivered with the acquisitions of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli. There had been rumours over Silva's potential destination, but City were able to prise him away from Valencia with a reported £24m offer.
Toure also joined the new-look squad from Barcelona for a similar fee to that of the Spain international on a five-year contract, while Balotelli, who was to later prove to be City's main headline-maker for good and bad reasons, moved to City from Inter Milan for a reported £18.7m.
May 2011 - City win first major trophy in 25 years
Mancini made history with the North-West club by guiding them to their first piece of silverware in 25 years. The Italian played a part in transforming the former mid-table club into a force in the top flight by finishing the season in third place.
However, the 2010-11 campaign was topped off for City with FA Cup glory. Toure scored the only goal of the game at Wembley to see off Stoke City and place the club's name in the history book as winners.
Summer 2011 - Mancini spends big
Once again, City were a dominant force in the transfer window at the end of the season. Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Sergio Aguero were the latest additions to join the City revolution, with both Nasri and Clichy making controversial moves to the Etihad Stadium from Arsenal.
While Clichy's reported £7m switch to City was a fairly simple transfer, Nasri's move left a sour taste in the mouths of Arsenal fans, especially since the Frenchman had, on occasion, criticised the Gunners following. However, the biggest swoop of the summer was arguably the capture of Aguero from Atletico Madrid. The Argentina international was deemed as hot property throughout the window, with Real Madrid thought to be eager to sign the striker. Despite their interest, City won the race to sign him with a reported £38m bid.
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September 2011 - Carlos Tevez saga
While life on the pitch in the Champions League during the 2011-12 season looked bleak, matters off it didn't look much better as Carlos Tevez made headlines for refusing to warm up during a European clash, sparking questions over his future at the club.
Mancini publicly announced after the game that the Argentina international was "finished", prompting the striker to fly back to South America without the club's permission. Pressure began to mount on Mancini on the status of Tevez's position at the club. While the Italian had previously stated that Tevez had no future at City following his decision to disobey orders, the striker was eventually welcomed back to the club.
October 2011 - City secure famous Manchester derby victory
Despite the controversy surrounding City and Tevez, matters on the pitch in the club's domestic campaign looked brighter as they secured a huge Manchester derby victory over arch rivals Manchester United.
The side travelled to Old Trafford as the underdogs, but they soon made a statement to English football that they were on the up by snatching a 6-1 triumph over Sir Alex Ferguson's men. One goal celebration will be particularly remembered - Balotelli opened the floodgates for City and reacted by lifting his shirt to reveal a top with the words 'Why Always Me?' emblazoned on the front. The Italian's off-field incidents seemed to make the headlines more than his football ability, but that goal sparked City into a rout over their local rivals.
May 2012 - Late Aguero goal secures Premier League title
City's title victory will go down in history as one of the best triumphs in English football. Not only because it sealed City's place as title holders for the first time in 44 years, but because of the dramatic fashion they clinched it in.
The blue half of Manchester were poised to lose their grip on the trophy to Manchester United as they were drawing 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers, while the Red Devils had already secured a victory over Sunderland. However, five minutes of added time resulted in a late attempt by Aguero, who took his chance to hammer City to the top of the title on goal difference.
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July 2012 - Mancini signs five-year deal
Despite guiding his side to Premier League glory, there were rumours over the Italian's position at the club. While there had been suggestions that the North West outfit were ready to sack Mancini, the coach dispelled speculation by signing a new five-year contract.
January 2013 - Balotelli training ground bust-up
Matters on the pitch worsened when City were dumped out of the Champions League at the group phase without picking up a single win, but it got worse off the pitch. Mancini was photographed grabbing the training bib of Balotelli in a blaze of fury during a session at Carrington.
While the Italian boss attempted to play down the incident by claiming that they had a disagreement following a reckless tackle made by Balotelli, the controversial striker would find himself out the door by the end of the January transfer window. Despite Balotelli's move to AC Milan, there were indications that Mancini wanted to keep the forward due to his constant open fondness for him, but it wasn't to be.
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April 2013 - Lose Premier League title to Manchester United
City may have taken the title race to the wire last season, but it was a different story this time around, as they were resigned to losing the trophy by a margin of 16 points by April, with five games left to play.
Despite Mancini's disappointment, the Italian boss admitted that his side would not have been worthy winners this year, but held hopes that he could end the campaign with another FA Cup to put in the trophy cabinet. Following the club's demise in their domestic campaign, rumours began to surface once again that Mancini could be shown the door.
May 2013 - FA Cup defeat and Mancini sacked
City headed into the FA Cup final against Wigan Athletic as huge favourites to nab their sixth trophy, but they were stunned by a goal from Ben Watson in the final minute of the clash.
The club announced that they had cut ties with Mancini a year to the day that City won their first league title in 44 years. Widespread reports followed suggesting that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini will take the reins at City as the club search for a new direction.
Danielle Joynson
