Roberto Mancini has been dismissed from his position as manager of the Saudi Arabian men’s national team after a brief tenure of 14 months.
This decision comes just months after he signed a lucrative four-year contract reportedly worth £21 million per year.
Mancini’s appointment followed his resignation as Italy’s national team manager, where he achieved notable success by leading Italy to victory in the 2021 European Championships.
However, his time in Saudi Arabia was fraught with challenges, and recent speculation suggested that his job was in jeopardy.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation released a statement announcing that a “joint agreement” had been reached to terminate Mancini’s contract.
READ ALSO: Carlo Ancelotti: Vinicius Jr. is going to win [the Ballon d’Or]
The statement expressed gratitude for Mancini’s contributions, wishing him well in his future endeavors. “The council extends its thanks to Mr. Roberto Mancini, wishing him good luck in his career,” the announcement read.
At the time of his dismissal, Saudi Arabia was positioned third in Group C of the third round of Asia’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, raising questions about Mancini’s ability to meet the expectations set upon him.
The Saudi Football Federation also indicated that they would reveal the identity of Mancini’s successor in the coming days, as they move forward in their quest for World Cup qualification.
