Italian manager Roberto Mancini’s stint as the head coach of Saudi Arabia’s national team ended after he and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) reached a “joint agreement” to part ways.
SAFF confirmed Mancini’s departure via a statement issued on Thursday. According to soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, SAFF is already in the process of looking for his replacement, and the new head coach could be announced soon.
Mancini was a splash hire by SAFF in August 2023 in an attempt to boost the profile of the national team and bring it in line with the rising popularity of the Saudi Pro League. However, Mancini never managed to make the desired effect. He oversaw 20 games, recording eight wins, seven draws, and five defeats, while being eliminated in the round of 16 at the Asia Cup.
It was particularly concerning that Saudi Arabia won just one of their last five games, which left them in a tough spot in the AFC third round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. They are now sitting third in Group C with five points from four matches, while only the top two countries will receive an automatic ticket for the tournament.
Prior to joining Saudi Arabia, Roberto Mancini was the head coach of Italy’s national team, spending five years on the job and winning the European Championship in 2022. He also coached Inter Milan and Manchester City, among other clubs.
