the emergency meeting.Betros said NRL clubs had been perceived as greedy at grassroots level over their stance.I

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. "Everything is in place for Manchester City to continue to be successful," Pellegrini said, "and I am excited to be able to work with such a talented squad, the executive team and the board to deliver for fans who are renowned for their steadfast support." Alfonzo McKinnie Warriors Jersey . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Wilt Chamberlain Warriors Jersey . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. https://www.warriorsrookiesshop.com/Alfonzo-Mckinnie-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. 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Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros believes common sense will prevail and NRL clubs will abandon plans to oust Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant on December 20.Betros revealed had had spoken to NRL clubs campaigning for Grants retention and been encouraged by the response ahead of this months emergency general meeting.There were more good portents on Monday night.Disgruntled NRL clubs announced that they had returned to the negotiation table with Grant over a funding stoush.I hope that (December 20) meeting is cancelled and I believe it will be, Betros told AAP.I believe common sense will prevail.I am encouraging the warring parties to sit down and settle their differences and find some amicable agreement and not tear ourselves apart.Chopping Johns head off doesnt solve any problems, simple as that.Funding talks had been postponed indefinitely just last week after clubs called for the emergency meeting in a bid to get rid of Grant.The ARLC boss had been desperate for clubs to return to the negotiation table after falling out with them by reneging on a 12 month old funding agreement.He recently withdrew a memorandum of understanding which pledged an extra $100 million per year to clubs from 2018.Representatives of the clubs and the ARLC met today and agreed to continue discussions to resolve the current impasse, NRL clubs said in a statement on Monday night.Betros now hoped renewed talks would also lead to tthe December 20 meeting being abandoned.ddddddddddddClubs require a minimum 14 votes from the games 26 shareholders - the 16 clubs, NSWRL, eight commissioners and the QRL represented by Betros - to remove Grant at the meeting.Fourteen clubs, excluding the NRL-owned Gold Coast and Newcastle, signed a letter to the ARLC backing the emergency meeting.Betros said NRL clubs had been perceived as greedy at grassroots level over their stance.I dont know if it is personal, Betros said.I just think this desire to control the money is clouding some clubs view.I think the clubs are just looking for someone who is more attuned to their desires.Its the club ideology of us first and everyone else comes later.I mix in league circles a lot below the NRL level and there is a great perception that the clubs are being very greedy and selfish.Betros believed the most important people in the game had been overlooked in the disgruntled NRL clubs funding stoush - grass roots footy.Grant reneged on the funding promise in a bid to renew a grassroots footy focus after citing a decline in participation.I acknowledge that the NRL brings in the funding for the game but there is an enormous amount of grass roots football that comes underneath, Betros said.It is responsible for the next players coming through - its got to be protected. 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