Former Italy coach upset players and attracted fans’ ire; he now leaves a team struggling for World Cup qualification

Just before full time in Saudi Arabia’s 0-0 draw with Bahrain in a vital 2026 World Cup qualifier earlier this month, fans in Jeddah started to hold up phones with Roberto Mancini’s face on the screen with “out” written below. There was lengthier communication after the match as the Italian exchanged gestures with supporters behind the dugout and, as he exited the pitch at the King Abdullah Sports City, it was pretty clear that Mancini would not be coming back.

The 59 year-old was seemingly an upgrade on his predecessor, Hervé Renard. There was the same European sophistication and suavity but Mancini had won Serie A and the Premier League and arrived in Riyadh in August 2023 two years after leading Italy to European Championship glory. The job description was not solely about taking the Green Falcons to the knockout stages of the World Cup – success at the 2027 Asian Cup was just as important. Saudi Arabia is hosting the tournament for the first time and wants a first win since 1996 as the country gears up for the 2034 World Cup.