Manuel Pellegrini has returned to Santiago in Chile to take some time out with his family before the pre-season programme begins.

All the players and the majority of West Ham coaching staff are on their Summer holidays at the moment and are not due to return until the first week of July. Players on World Cup duty will return later, some as late as the first week in August if they make the later stages of the competition.

His wife Carola Pucci and his three adult sons Nicolas, Juan Ignacio and Manuel have remained in Chile throughout his management career abroad and he previously explained he made a pact with his wife and made a personal sacrifice to allow his family to remain rooted in their home country.

Pellegrini flies back to Chile whenever he can to spend time with his family.  The 64-year-old is already thought to have chosen his backroom team who will start at the beginning of July and given the board a list of transfer targets for this summer.