Since October 24, Roberto Mancini is officially no longer the coach of Saudi Arabia. The 59-year-old vehemently denies that the termination of his contract was expensive.
The timing was questionable, but the offer was probably too lucrative to turn down. Roberto Mancini unexpectedly resigned as Italy national team coach in August 2023, just days before two crucial qualifiers on the road to the European Championship in Germany.
Exactly two weeks later, his engagement in Saudi Arabia, which had already been hinted at after the separation in Italy, became official. The talk was of a guaranteed 90 million euros for the fulfillment of his four-year contract until 2027. “I made history in Europe,” Mancini said at the time and announced, “Now it’s time to make history in Saudi Arabia.”
In the end, it was to be just 18 games and 14 months before the contract was terminated “by mutual agreement”. Seven wins, five draws and six defeats, with 22 goals scored and 26 conceded – not a particularly convincing record.
“I’m disappointed,” said Mancini in his first statement after the split to TuttoMercatoWeb: ”We did a good job in these months, but sometimes the results don’t come. Both sides were unhappy.”
And wanted the separation. Which Mancini allowed himself to be paid handsomely for? According to reports, the former Inter coach is said to have pocketed a sum of 20 million euros. Mancini strongly disagrees with these rumors: “They’re all lies.”
Cassano sees Mancini as “ideal” Roma coach
In Saudi Arabia, they have already found a successor. Once again, the French coach Hervé Renard will be on the sidelines. It is the 56-year-old’s second stint in the desert state. Renard was already working in Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2023 – and caused a real stir with the underdog, especially at the 2022 World Cup, where they beat eventual world champions Argentina in the opening game.
Mancini, meanwhile, is not averse to returning to Italy. And a possible reunion with the Italian national team: “You never know in life. We did some very good things together – including the world record of 37 unbeaten games.”
Most recently, Italy’s striker icon Antonio Cassano suggested the three-time Italian champion as the “ideal successor” to Ivan Juric at crisis-ridden Roma.
