Vieira’s new role at City

Manchester City's blueprint for the future has become clearer following the appointment of Patrick Vieira as elite development squad coach.

Vieira moves from an admin role to take over what is effectively the reserve team from Attilio Lombardo, who has left the club following Roberto Mancini's departure.

The 36–year–old former City, Arsenal and France midfielder has spent the past two years since retiring as a player working as the club's football development executive.

Chief executive Ferran Soriano said: "Patrick is a world champion and it is a great honour that he has chosen Manchester City to begin his football management career.”

The next major piece of the club's restructure is to bring in a new first–team manager to replace Mancini.

Assistant manager Brian Kidd remains in interim charge for Sunday's final Barclays Premier League game against Norwich at the Etihad Stadium.



Wayne Rooney is facing the possibility of having played his last game in a Manchester United shirt as manager Sir Alex Ferguson decides on the squad for his final game in charge.
Rooney sat out Ferguson's final home game before his retirement, against Swansea on Sunday, after asking for a transfer.

When Ferguson selects his line–up to play West Brom at the Hawthorns on Sunday he is likely to pick a team symbolic of his years at Old Trafford - with starting places for Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, plus last summer's key signing Robin van Persie.