Roberto Mancini has resigned from his position as head coach of Saudi Arabia’s national football team, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Thursday. The 59-year-old Italian manager’s departure comes after 14 months at the helm.
In a statement released by the SAFF, it was revealed that Mancini and the federation have reached a “joint agreement” for his exit. “His replacement will be announced in the next few days after the finalization of the contract procedures,” the statement added.
During his tenure, Saudi Arabia played 18 matches, securing seven wins, five draws, and six losses. The team scored 26 goals and conceded 22. Despite a promising start, they faced challenges in the third stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying tournament, managing only one win in four games.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was eliminated in the round of 16 at the AFC Asian Cup. Controversy surrounded Mancini when he left the pitch before South Korea took their final penalty kick, a move that drew significant criticism. Mancini later issued an apology for his actions.
Recently, Mancini expressed concerns over the impact of the Saudi Pro League’s substantial investments in foreign players on local talent. “I’ve said this many times,” he noted during a press conference. “This is the only problem that we have, because three years ago all the Saudi players played every game. Today? 50, 60 percent don’t play in the game.”
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia is set to face Australia away in November for their next World Cup AFC qualifier. Currently sitting third in Group C, they are outside the automatic qualification spots and will need to improve their performance to secure a place in the tournament.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
