Roberto Mancini was on August 27 named as the brand new coach of the Saudi Arabia nationwide crew on a deal reported to be price greater than $25 million a 12 months after he controversially stop the Italy job earlier this month.
The Saudis, who beat eventual champions Argentina ultimately 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar, have been with no coach since Herve Renard left to take cost of France’s ladies’s crew.
Mancini, 58, led Italy to the Euro 2020 title however did not qualify for final 12 months’s World Cup.
“I am immensely honoured to be offered the position as Saudi Arabia national team manager,” mentioned Mancini who has signed a four-year contract.
“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.”
He added: “The presence of top players in the Saudi Pro League indicates the potential for growth in the national football scene.”
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, has made waves this summer time by shopping for a bunch of gamers from European golf equipment for groups within the Saudi Pro League.
Brazil star Neymar was the newest in a rising listing of massive names to be attracted by the massive sums provided by the Saudis after Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off the development by shifting to Al-Nassr in January.
Shock exit
Mancini’s resignation from the Italy job got here as a significant shock, as earlier this month he had been handed duty for the nation’s Under-21 and Under-20 groups.
He was closely criticised for his resolution particularly following early reviews that he was set to simply accept a mega-money transfer to Saudi, which he denied was the explanation behind his resignation.
Mancini, who was changed by former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti, had a combined time in his 5 years as Italy coach, victory at Euro 2020 seeming to revitalise a troubled soccer nation.
But the Azzurri did not qualify for final 12 months’s World Cup following a disastrous play-off defeat to North Macedonia, the second straight time they missed the world’s largest soccer match.
Mancini received the 1991 Serie A title and 4 Italian Cups with long-time membership Sampdoria, the place he starred in assault alongside recently-deceased Gianluca Vialli.
Once turning into a coach he received three extra “Scudetti” at Inter Milan — one assigned to the membership within the aftermath of the “Calciopoli” match-fixing scandal, after which received the Premier League with Manchester City in 2012.
‘New era’
Newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport reported on Sunday that Mancini’s contract in Saudi Arabia would include an annual wage of 25 million euros ($27 million).
The federation’s assertion didn’t disclose his wage.
“The appointment confirms the new era of growth for the Saudi Arabian national team and marks a new milestone in Mancini’s distinguished career,” the Saudi federation mentioned in an announcement confirming Mancini’s appointment.
Mancini was resulting from arrive within the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday to be introduced to the media.
His first match with the crew is ready for September 8, a global pleasant towards Costa Rica at St James’ Park, house of Newcastle which is owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
Another pleasant towards South Korea is scheduled to be held within the English metropolis on September 12.
A video posted to the Saudi nationwide crew’s account Sunday on X, previously Twitter, featured Mancini in a white shirt and inexperienced tie declaring, “I made history in Europe, now it’s time to make history with Saudi.”
The size of his new contract means Mancini would probably lead the Saudis to the following World Cup, and a supply near the negotiations instructed AFP the Saudi federation was “very optimistic with him at the helm”.