In a surprising turn of events, Roberto Mancini has stepped down as the coach of the Saudi Arabian national football team, according to a statement released by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) on Thursday. The 59-year-old Italian reached a mutual agreement with SAFF to leave his position after 14 months at the helm.
During his tenure, Mancini led Saudi Arabia through 18 matches, achieving seven wins, five draws, and six losses. The team scored 26 goals while conceding 22. However, challenges emerged during the third stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying tournament, where Saudi Arabia secured only one win in four games.
The early exit from the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year further intensified scrutiny of Mancini's leadership. The team was eliminated in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout loss to South Korea, a moment that drew significant criticism towards Mancini, who later apologized for his actions on the sidelines.
Earlier this month, Mancini voiced his concerns about the Saudi Pro League's heavy investments in foreign players, which he believes have limited opportunities for local talent. \"I've said this many times,\" Mancini remarked at a press conference. \"This is the only problem that we have, because three years ago all the Saudi players played every game. Today? 50, 60 per cent don't play in the game.\"
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia is set to face Australia in their next World Cup AFC qualifier match in November. Currently positioned third in Group C, the team remains outside the automatic qualification spots, making the upcoming match crucial for their World Cup aspirations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
