Mancini parts ways with Saudi Arabia national team After contract termination

Roberto Mancini has officially left his role as head coach of the Saudi Arabian national football team after 14 months in charge. The 59-year-old was appointed to a four-year contract in August 2023, following his resignation from the Italian national team.

On October 23, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced that a “joint agreement” had been reached for Mancini's departure. They also stated that a new head coach would be revealed in the coming days after finalizing contract details, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Under Mancini’s leadership, Saudi Arabia has struggled, winning just one of their last five matches. The team currently sits third in Group C of the third round of Asia’s qualification process for the 2026 World Cup. The top two teams in this six-team group will automatically qualify for the tournament, which will be hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, while the third and fourth-placed teams will progress to the next qualifying round.

Mancini, who previously managed Manchester City and Inter Milan, led Italy to victory in the 2020 European Championship but could not secure a place for them in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia is set to host the World Cup for the first time in 2034, and the nation's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has made significant investments in club football. This includes the 2021 takeover of Premier League club Newcastle United and substantial financial support for local clubs such as Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Ittihad. Prominent players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino are now playing in the Saudi Pro League.

Mancini has previously expressed concerns about the effects of this transfer strategy on homegrown players, stating, “This is the only problem that we have, because three years ago all the Saudi players played every game.”

By Vafa Guliyeva