Roberto Mancini, the former Italy coach who recently left his position, has emerged as the new head coach for the Saudi Arabia national team. This surprising move comes with a reported annual contract exceeding $25 million. Following the departure of Herve Renard, who took charge of the France women's team, the Saudi team had been without a coach. Notably, Saudi Arabia achieved a significant victory at the last World Cup in Qatar by defeating eventual champions Argentina, while Mancini, at the helm of Italy, clinched the Euro 2020 title but faced disappointment in failing to secure a spot in the previous World Cup.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) did not provide additional details, but Italian media reports indicated that Mancini would depart for Riyadh on Monday to participate in a presentation event and sign a contract until 2027, valued at 25 million euros ($27 million) annually, after taxes.
His inaugural match at the helm will be on September 8 against Costa Rica at St. James' Park in Newcastle.
"I've made history in Europe, and now it's time to create history with Saudi," Mancini declared in a video shared on the X social media platform.
"This, I believe, is an incredible opportunity for me to engage with football in a new nation, especially considering the increasing popularity of football in Asia," Mancini added.
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