(REUTERS) - Patrick Vieira stepped down as coach of New York City FC on Sunday (June 10), leaving the Major League Soccer club to take the reins as the new manager of Nice, who finished eighth in the top French division last season.

The Frenchman's record was 39 wins, 27 losses and 22 draws while in charge of NYC. The team are second in the Eastern Conference this season but last Saturday were held 1-1 by Atlanta at Yankee Stadium as their perfect season home-win record was ended.

His departure was announced on the website of Manchester City, who are in the same ownership group as NYC and with whom he played for before retiring in 2011.

"I would like to thank City Football Group and New York City FC for the opportunity to have coached this tremendous football club," the 41-year-old said in a statement on Manchester City's website.

"Leaving New York is an incredibly difficult decision for me and for my family and one that has not been taken lightly."

Vieira, a former star with Arsenal and a 1998 World Cup winner, will take assistants Christian Lattanzio, Kristian Wilson and Matt Cook with him to Nice. They all previously worked for Vieira with Manchester City's youth squad.

There was no immediate word from New York City FC on Vieira's replacement.