Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has officially announced the departure of 59-year-old Italian coach Roberto Mancini.
The decision was described as amicable, with both parties agreeing to part ways following a challenging tenure for the national team.
Mancini, who took over the Saudi Arabian national team in August 2023 with a four-year contract set to run until 2027, struggled to meet expectations. Under his leadership, the team managed only one win in four matches during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Group C, Asia Zone, Round 3. This poor performance prompted the SAFF to make the difficult decision to end his contract early.
During his time as head coach, Mancini’s record with Saudi Arabia consisted of 15 matches, of which the team won 7, drew 5, and lost 3. This resulted in a win percentage of 46.67%, far below the expectations set when the Italian coach was appointed.
Despite high hopes for his leadership following his successful stints with other teams, including his triumph at UEFA Euro 2020 with Italy, Mancini could not replicate the same level of success with the Saudi Arabian national team. The SAFF will now focus on finding a suitable replacement as they look to improve their results in the ongoing World Cup qualification campaign.
Credit Photo : AFC
