Roberto Mancini Parts Ways with Saudi Arabia National Team

Roberto Mancini has officially left his position as the manager of the Saudi Arabian national football team after reaching a mutual agreement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to terminate his contract. The former Manchester City manager took charge in August 2023, shortly after his departure from the Italian national team, but his tenure has been marked by challenges.

During his brief stint, Mancini faced considerable difficulties, particularly with player management. Ahead of the Asian Cup in January, he controversially dropped three players—former captain Salman Al-Faraj, Sultan Al-Ghannam, and goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi—due to allegations that they selectively chose which matches to participate in. These players vehemently denied the claims, which contributed to a tumultuous atmosphere within the squad. Furthermore, Mancini's frustrations with the lack of playing time for Saudi forwards in the domestic league, which features many high-profile foreign signings, have also been a recurring theme in his criticisms.

Mancini’s time with the national team was further complicated by disappointing results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where Saudi Arabia managed surprising draws against lower-ranked teams such as Bahrain and Indonesia. His departure comes after a notably emotional incident during the Asian Cup, where he left the tunnel prematurely during a penalty shootout against South Korea, mistakenly believing the match had concluded. His exit raises questions about the future direction of Saudi football as they continue to seek success on the international stage.