Clan-Members » points, but the Briton took his third to mak

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City hired Manuel Pellegrini as the clubs new manager on Friday, entrusting a man nicknamed "The Engineer" with constructing a team to reclaim the Premier League title and become a force in the Champions League. The 59-year-old Chilean has been courted for months by City following impressive spells in Spain with Villarreal and Malaga, which he left this month. He also coached Real Madrid in his nine-year stint in Spain but was fired after one season despite guiding the team to its then-record points total in La Liga. Pellegrini was appointed exactly a month after Roberto Mancini was fired for failing to capture a trophy in his third full season in charge, an indication of the expectations loaded on Citys new manager by its mega-rich owners from Abu Dhabi. "I am delighted to accept this hugely exciting opportunity," Pellegrini said. "The club has a clear vision for success both on and off the pitch and I am committed to making a significant contribution." Pellegrini signed a three-year deal, having had to wait to complete the move while contractual issues with Malaga were sorted. British media is reporting his deal is worth 15 million pounds ($23.5 million). He will take up the role from June 24 and will be managing in his fifth country in 25 years, after previous stints in Chile, Ecuador, Argentina and Spain in which he won six major trophies in total. "Manuel is a hugely experienced and successful manager with a proven track record," City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. "We have been greatly impressed throughout the selection process by his philosophy, his attitude and his commitment to the long-term development of Manchester City. I am delighted that he has joined us." In a way, though, City is taking a gamble. Pellegrini failed to win a major title during his time in Spain and will be coaching in England for the first time. Many will look at his short stint at Madrid and say he is yet to prove himself at the highest level, that he flopped despite having at his disposal the most expensively assembled squad in the history of the Spanish league. Look deeper, though, and it is easy to see why City executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain -- former Barcelona officials charged with developing Citys long-term strategy -- have turned to a laid-back coach known for his man-management skills and ability to get the best out of players. Pellegrini, who speaks English, overachieved at Villarreal and Malaga, leading the former to the Champions League semifinals in 2006 and an unprecedented second-place finish in La Liga and the latter to the quarterfinals of Europes top competition last season. He was also harshly dealt with by the powerbrokers at Madrid -- told which players to keep, whom to sell and with some bought without his consent. Madrid finished its one and only season under Pellegrini with 96 points, a club record at the time, despite being without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo for six weeks. But the team finished second after coming up against the all-conquering Barcelona side of Pep Guardiola. Having also failed to get Madrid past the last 16 of the Champions League, he was fired and succeeded by Jose Mourinho. In firing Mancini, City said it wanted a coach who could "develop a holistic approach to all aspects of football at the club," and Pellegrini proved at Villarreal and Malaga that he could bring through youngsters as well as have an eye for talent in the transfer market. Soriano and Begiristain clearly want City to mimic the model followed so successfully by Barca, where all the teams -- from youth to senior level -- play with the same style and philosophy. This may be a three-year deal for Pellegrini but City is planning long-term. "Manuel is a very experienced coach with a recognized ability to get the most out of his players and build cohesive teams," Soriano said. "He shares the clubs approach to football and our ambition to achieve on-field success, co-ordinating with the wider football support teams to ensure natural progression from the academy to senior level." Pellegrini will have a star-studded squad at his disposal that has been supplemented during the past week by the signings of Brazil midfielder Fernandinho and Spain winger Jesus Navas for about 50 million pounds ($78 million), with City acting quickly this off-season after missing out on its main targets last off-season. That brings its own pressure, with Pellegrini knowing he is unlikely to last beyond next summer without winning the English title or going deep in the Champions League, the tournament in which City has failed to get out of its group in the past two years. Last month, Soriano set the club a target of five trophies in the next five seasons. Under Pellegrinis stewardship, there is unlikely to be any of the dressing-room bust-ups or training-pitch clashes that scarred Mancinis 3 1/2-year reign and led to increasing disharmony in the squad. A civil engineering graduate -- hence his moniker -- he is a placid character, typically popular among players and fans and respected in the media. Pellegrini will appreciate the opportunity he has been given at a time of flux at the top of the Premier League. With no more Alex Ferguson at United and Chelsea also changing managers this off-season, the former Chile defender has a chance to establish City as the leading force in England -- just as Mancini had before the Italian messed up. 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LONDON -- Andy Murray capped off the finest season of his career with two more significant feats.In front of some of Hollywoods finest including Kevin Spacey, Clive Owen, Woody Harrelson and Jude Law, Murray charged to a 6-3, 6-4 win Sunday against Novak Djokovic to win his first ATP World Tour championship and secure the No. 1 ranking.The match, between two players whose friendship goes back to their teenage years, when they grew up playing together at the Sánchez-Casal academy in Barcelona, lasted 1 hour, 42 minutes, and when it was over, Murray dropped his racket and put his hands on his head.Its something I never, never expected, Murray said in his on-court interview.Djokovic gave him a warm embrace and some kind words at the net in a show of the enormous respect between them.Today we both were part of the history, Djokovic said. It was an honor to be part of the big occasion. Andys definitely No. 1 of the world. Hes the best player. He deserved to win.It was a career-best 24th straight victory and a fifth consecutive title for the Scot. In all, Murray won nine titles in a glittering season that also included a third major at Wimbledon and a second Olympic gold.Murray became just the 17th different player in the history of the rankings to finish the season No. 1. He did it in a year in which his brother, Jamie Murray, finished No. 1 in the doubles rankings with partner Bruno Soares.Its been a tough rivalry with Novak, said Murray, who trails 24-11 in their head-to-head matches. Weve played Grand Slam finals, Olympics, matches like this. Ive lost many of them. Im happy I managed to get the win today and finish the year as No. 1.Djokovic sprayed the court with unforced errors Sunday -- 30 in all -- while Murray rolled largely because of the impressive 84 percent of points he won on his first serve.A fast start was key for Murray. Going into Sundays meeting, Djokovic was 19-0 against the Scot when taking the first set.Murray double-faulted twice in his first service game, and it looked like all that he had been through this week had taken its toll. The semifinal against Milos Raonic alone must have been an enormous drain on him physically and mentally. He spent a season-high (in a best-of-three match) 3 hours, 38 minutes on court Saturday, while Djokovic came through in 66 minutes in a blowout over Kei Nishikori.I felt tired. I slept well last night, but I didnt feel great this morning, Murray later told a news conference.dddddddddddd The practice, the warm-up for the match, I was hitting the ball fine, but just a bit sluggish, a bit heavy-legged.Thankfully the first sort of seven games of the match, there was no long rallies really at all, which for us is strange. Novak came out and served great his first couple service games. I got a lot of free points off my first serve, as well.The body language was positive from Murray. After Murray missed two early break points in the sixth game of the match, the linesman failed to spot a double fault from Djokovic. Murray knew it was out but knew he could do nothing about it. He got his head down and kept at it.Djokovic was hesitant to trade blows, and Murray was the one drawing mistakes. He took his third break point of the first set to open up a 5-3 lead and closed it out after 46 minutes when Djokovic reeled off his 11th unforced error.He wasnt about to sit back. He broke immediately at the start of the second set and got the double break for 4-1. Djokovic just didnt look like he fancied it.But the Serb was never going to take a hammering like this lying down. Murray finally faced his first break point after 78 minutes, and Djokovic managed to make it 4-2. He then caused Murray some anxiety by saving two match points, but the Briton took his third to make history.It wasnt really until the middle of the second set when the rallies started to get extended and longer that my legs were starting to feel it, said Murray. Thats why it became harder, as well, to close the match out, because I knew that the longer the match went, the worse I was going to feel, and probably the better he was going to play, too.I was lucky I got it finished in two sets.This was Murrays first win over Djokovic indoors, an illustration of how much work Murray has done in the gym the past few years.He has found ways to get over hurdles throughout his career, and there has been none higher than toppling Djokovic, who held all four Grand Slams simultaneously after their last meeting in the French Open final on June 5.Afterward, Murray said he was going to take two weeks off from tennis before starting preparation for the 2017 season.? ' ' '