Mancini Leaves Saudi Arabia Coaching Role

Roberto Mancini has departed from his position as head coach of Saudi Arabia's national football team after just 14 months, following a series of underwhelming performances, including an early exit from the Asian Cup. His tenure, marked by a disappointing record of seven wins in 18 games, ended by mutual agreement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Mancini, one of the highest-paid managers globally with a contract worth over $25 million annually, was reportedly seen in a heated exchange with fans during his final match, a 0-0 draw against Bahrain. He initially joined the Saudi team shortly after resigning from the Italian national team, and his successor is expected to be announced soon, with candidates like Ramon Diaz and Herve Renard being considered. Despite his previous successes with teams like Inter Milan and Manchester City, Mancini's time with Saudi Arabia did not meet expectations. The Saudi Arabian FA is now focused on finding a new coach to improve the national team's performance ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.