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The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) have announced the appointment of Roberto Mancini as manager of the men’s national team.
The appointment confirms the new era of growth for the Saudi Arabian national team and marks a new milestone in Mancini’s distinguished career.
Mancini, most recently manager of Italy, successfully led the Azzurri to UEFA European Championship 2020 success. He also won the Premier League with Manchester City in season 2011/12, as well as taking Inter Milan to three Serie A titles between 2005-2008. An acclaimed playing career for more than two decades saw the skillful footballer earn 36 caps for Italy and win Serie A titles and European trophies for both Sampdoria and Lazio.
The 58-year-old comes to Saudi Arabia at a hugely positive time for football. The national team caught the imagination of world football with game-changing performances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This is alongside the tremendous and exponential growth of the Saudi Pro League and the history-making milestones of women’s football both domestically and on the international stage.
Mancini, who has signed a four-year contract as manager of the Green Falcons, said, “I am immensely honoured to be offered the position as Saudi Arabia national team manager. I believe this is a great opportunity for me, to experience football in a new country, especially with the growing popularity of football in Asia. I firmly believe that the passionate footballing culture of Saudi Arabia and the intrinsic quality of Saudi players are crucial ingredients for success. The presence of top players in the Saudi Pro League indicates the potential for growth in the national football scene.”
Mancini added, “The whole world recognises the enormous potential of the Saudi Arabia national team during their outstanding performance at the World Cup. The scenes of the fans following that victory was immense. They left their mark on the global stage, filling Saudi Arabian football fans with immense pride and accelerating the nation’s footballing ambitions. We have the potential to improve further. The squad is strong with talented players. I believe we have what it takes to elevate our game if we work hard.”
Mancini’s first match managing the Saudi Arabia national team is set for September 8, when the Green Falcons face Costa Rica in an international friendly. On September 12, Saudi Arabia will take on South Korea in another international friendly. Both matches take place at St James’ Park in Newcastle, England. These matches serve as part of preparations for the team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup – Asian Qualifying campaign, which commences in November.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal said, “We are delighted to welcome Roberto Mancini to lead the Green Falcons. His experience and proven track record at club and international level marks a significant step towards achieving our goals in international football. Roberto believes in Saudi football and our desire to develop top competitive players and take them to new heights on the world stage – including the Asian Cup in Qatar and qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
“The energy, optimism and growth of Saudi football at all levels is inspiring our country. Our men’s, women’s and youth teams have made their mark across the Middle East and Asia. We’re a footballing nation and we continuing to invest at every level in our journey to compete with the best in the world on and off the pitch.”
