Roberto Mancini leaves Saudi Arabia national team after termination of contract

Roberto Mancini has left his role as head coach of Saudi Arabia's national team, the country's football federation said Thursday.

In Short

• Roberto Mancini resigns as Saudi Arabia's football coach
• Mancini's tenure saw seven wins in 18 matches
• He leaves three weeks before a crucial World Cup qualifier

Roberto Mancini has stepped down as head coach of Saudi Arabia’s national football team, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Thursday. The decision, reached by mutual consent, comes just three weeks before Saudi Arabia's vital 2026 World Cup qualifier against Australia.

Mancini, who famously guided Italy to a European Championship victory in 2021, was appointed head coach of Saudi Arabia in August 2023, only two weeks after resigning as Italy's manager. Despite his decorated career, which includes winning three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and a Premier League title with Manchester City, Mancini’s time with the Saudi national team was underwhelming.

During his 14-month tenure, the 59-year-old oversaw seven wins in 18 matches. Saudi Arabia's World Cup qualifying campaign has been rocky, with the team currently sitting third in Group C of Asia's third round of qualifiers, outside the automatic qualification spots. Following a 2-0 home defeat to Japan and a goalless draw with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia have five points from four matches, trailing both Japan and Australia, who are tied with 10 points. Only the top two teams in each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while third and fourth-place teams must navigate additional qualifying rounds.

Mancini also faced disappointment in the 2023 Asian Cup, where Saudi Arabia were eliminated in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout loss to South Korea. His decision to leave the pitch before South Korea’s final penalty sparked controversy, though he later apologized for the incident.

Saudi Arabia's next challenge will be a World Cup qualifier against Australia in Melbourne on November 14, followed by a match against Indonesia in Jakarta on November 19. The SAFF will now look to quickly appoint a new coach to guide the team through these critical fixtures.

“The board of directors of the Saudi Football Federation and Roberto Mancini have reached a joint agreement, which includes the end of the contractual relationship,” the SAFF confirmed in a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Mancini’s departure leaves Saudi Arabia searching for stability as they aim to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup amid growing pressure in the qualification race.