Kayode Akinwumi
Roberto Mancini is no longer the coach of the Saudi Arabian national team. The Italian and Saudi reached an agreement to mutually terminate his existing contract as head coach of the national team. The former Manchester City coach was appointed to the role weeks following his resignation as manager of the Azzurri in July 2023.
His performance, however, has left much to be desired, managing only seven wins from 18 games in charge of the team. He led the Arabian Falcons to a disappointing show in the Asian Cup where they got sent home by Korea in the round-of-16 in January.
The Saudi Football Federation issued an official statement on Thursday to confirm the decision by both parties to mutually end the contract. There had been reports that the Saudi Football governing body was dissatisfied with Mancini’s performance and was planning on showing him the door. The manager’s relationship with the fans had also become strained as he was shown arguing with fans in the stands during his last game in charge when Saudi faced Bahrain at home in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The game ended in a disappointing goalless draw.
Mancini had left his job as Italy’s coach after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, although he had led the Azzurri to their Euro 2020 triumph in England just two years earlier. The Italian manager is vastly experienced, having coached in the Italian and English top-flight, winning the Serie A with Inter and the Premier League with Man City.
