In conflict with the federation, the Italian coach is no longer at the head of Saudi Arabia. Who could remember his former coach, Hervé Renard.
Official breakup. The Saudi Football Federation announced on Thursday that it had terminated the contract of Italian coach Roberto Mancini by mutual consent.
The name of the new coach “will be announced in the coming days after having finalized the contractual procedures in a definitive and official manner”she added in her press release.
Mancini, European champion with Italy in 2021, took office in August 2023 and was under contract until 2027. But his performance at the head of the Saudi team disappointed. In 18 matches under the Italian coach, the Green Falcons have won seven, drawn five and lost six times.
Towards a return of Fox?
According to the press, Roberto Mancini had accepted an annual salary offer of 25 million dollars (23 million euros) to lead the Saudi selection, succeeding Frenchman Hervé Renard. The latter is among the candidates considered to take over the position, indicated to theAFP a source within the Saudi federation. The name of Zinedine Zidane was also mentioned earlier this week by the Italian press.
According to this source, who requested anonymity, negotiations with Mancini on the termination of the contract began after the home defeat against Japan (0-2) during qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The decision was not easy because “Mancini believes he didn’t have all his luck”she said, but “the poor results and unconvincing performances of the last period forced the federation to make a change”.
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