Saudi Arabian Football Federation appoints Roberto Mancini as manager of men’s national team

2023-08-28
20:25:29

• Mancini signs 4-year contract until 2027 to manage the Green Falcons
• ‘The passion of the country’s fans and the unique footballing culture of Saudi Arabia is something special’ – Roberto Mancini
• ‘Roberto believes in Saudi football and the desire to develop a generation of talented players, taking them to new heights on the world stage’ - SAFF President Yasser Al Misehal
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (27 August, 2023): The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) today 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 FIFA World Cup 2022. 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 4-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 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.
Keep up to date with the latest from the Saudi Arabia national team by following official channels on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) at @Saudint. For more information about Saudi football, you can visit the SAFF website: https://www.saff.com.sa/en/
After a successful football career as a player, Roberto Mancini continued his success off the field. The Italian football manager, has had a successful coaching career and has managed several top clubs and his country national team. Here is a brief overview of his coaching career:
Mancini Managerial Details
1. Fiorentina (2001-2002):
Mancini began his managerial career at Fiorentina, guiding them to win the Coppa Italia.
2. Lazio (2002-2004):
In 2002, Mancini was appointed as the head coach of Lazio. He led the club to a Coppa Italia victory in the 2003-2004 season and also won the Supercoppa Italiana in 2000 as an Assistant Coach.
3. Inter Milan (2004-2008):
Mancini took over the reins at Inter Milan in 2004 and experienced great success. He won three consecutive Serie A titles from 2005 to 2008, as well as two Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa Italiana.
4. Manchester City (2009-2013):
Following his spell at Inter Milan, Mancini was appointed as the manager of Manchester City in 2009. He created a dominant team and led them to their first Premier League title in 44 years, clinching the trophy in dramatic fashion on the final day of the 2011-2012 season. Mancini also won the FA Cup in 2011 and the Community Shield in 2012.
5. Galatasaray (2013-2014):
Mancini went on to manage Turkish club Galatasaray in 2013. He guided them to a second-place finish in the Turkish Süper Lig and won the Turkish Cup before leaving the club.
6. Zenit Saint Petersburg (2017-2018)
A short spell with the Russian club before joining his country top coaching position.


7. Italy national team (2018-2023):
Since May 2018, Mancini has been coaching the Italian national team. He successfully guided Italy to win the UEFA European championship title in 2020 and finishing third twice in the UEFA Nations League in 2020-21 and 2022-22. Italy under Roberto’s management held the world record for the longest international unbeaten run for 37 games.
Overall, Roberto Mancini's coaching career has been marked by several domestic and international titles making a significant impact wherever he has managed
ENDS

Media Enquiries: media@saff.com.sa
About the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF):
Established in 1956, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) is a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the governing body for football in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responsible for overseeing grassroots development and all aspects of the amateur and professional game.
The SAFF is in charge of elevating Saudi football to new heights, offering new opportunities across the ecosystem and inspiring the nation to participate and become an influential force for good within world football. SAFF currently administers 17 competitions for a total of 600+ teams across various age groups, most notably the annual King’s Cup and Saudi Super Cup.
The SAFF manages nine national teams ranging from the U-15 age group all the way to the first team, all of which compete in 23 regional and international competitions. As part of its significant investment in women’s football, it recently established the first women’s national team and league. It is responsible for the development and upskilling of over 3,000 national coaches and 1,700 referees across the Kingdom.