Roberto Mancini sacked as Saudi Arabia coach

Roberto Mancini has been removed as head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team just one year after taking the job. The 59-year-old Italian manager signed a four-year deal worth £77 million in August 2023, making him the highest-paid coach in football.

Mancini led Saudi Arabia to the 2022 World Cup and shocked the world by beating Argentina in their first match. However, his time with the team has been difficult, and the results have not met expectations.

During his 14 months in charge, Mancini’s team played 18 games, winning only seven, with five draws and six losses. His relationship with the players reportedly worsened in recent months, and fans became unhappy after Saudi Arabia ended up third in their World Cup qualifying group.

Things took a turn earlier this month when Mancini was seen arguing with fans after a 0-0 draw with Bahrain, adding to the pressure on him.

With Mancini gone, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is now searching for a new coach to guide the team as they push to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup.