Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi Football Federation announced on Thursday that it has terminated its contract with Italian coach Roberto Mancini after reaching a mutual agreement to end their partnership.

The federation's board expressed gratitude to Mancini for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavors.

Regarding his successor, the board indicated that an announcement will be made in the coming days after completing the official contractual procedures.

Mancini took over as head coach of the Saudi national team in August of last year, signing a contract that was set to run until 2027.

During his tenure, he led the team in the Asian Cup 2023 held in Doha in January, where Saudi Arabia was eliminated in the Round of 16.

Additionally, Mancini oversaw a challenging start in the crucial stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, securing only one victory against China while facing losses to Japan and draws against Indonesia and Bahrain at home in Jeddah.