Pellegrini Confirms He is Leaving Malaga at the End of the Season.

Manuel Pellegrini.
Manuel Pellegrini.

Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that he will leave the Spanish club this summer.

The Chilean has long been touted as a possible replacement for ousted Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and this announcement adds fat to such speculations.

The 59- year- old announced his departure at an awards ceremony in Malaga.

He said: “I am not leaving because of financial ambition, but because of sporting projects that will allow me to feel fulfilled.

“On Sunday I will take charge of my last match at the Rosaleda. Everyone has the right to follow their own part,” Pellegrini added.

“I would like to thank the owners of the club for putting their trust in me.”

Pellegrini’s Malaga made it to the quarter- finals of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League, where they were knocked out by finalist Borussia Dortmund. He has previously managed Vilarreal and Real Madrid.

Malaga finished fourth in Pellegrini’s first full season at the Rosaleda and made it to their first Champions League campaign.

During his time at Vilarreal between 2004 and 2009, the former Chilean international also guided the club into Europe’s elite competition for the first time in their history.

Vilarreal made it to the semi- finals in 2006, but lost to finalists Arsenal.

However, his reign at the Bernabeu in 2009 was short- lived as he only lasted a season.