World’s highest-paid football coach sacked following disappointing results

Mancini, who won the Euro 2020 title as the head coach of Italia, took the job at Saudi Arabia national team in August 2023 and signed a four-year deal worth US$99.8 million, which made him the highest-paid football coach in the world, The Sun reported.

However, just 14 months later, the Saudi Football Federation has reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract with Mancini.

“The SFF (Saudi Football Federation) has been negotiating with Mancini to terminate his contract since the defeat against Japan,” a source at SFF told AFP on Thursday.

Under Mancini, Saudi Arabia only managed to win seven in 18 games, with six defeats and five draws.

Italian media also reported that his relationship with the players and fans has been turbulent in recent months.

The 59-year-old coach was seen clashing with a group of Saudi Arabian fans after the team’s lackluster 0-0 draw with Bahrain earlier this month.

He also criticized the players for their underwhelming performance.

“Sometimes I think the players have to take the responsibility,” Mancini said after the game. “In my life, when I was a player, I took the responsibility because it’s easy to say it’s the coach’s fault. It’s too easy.”

SFF confirmed that the name of the new coach will be announced within days.

The previous coach Herve Renard, who led the team to a shocking victory over the champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, has opted for a return, among other candidates.

Renard left Saudi Arabia in 2023 to manage the national French women’s football team.

Saudi Arabia currently sit third in group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The team have dipped five places to 59th on FIFA ranking under the Italian coach.

Before leading Italy to the Euro 2020 triumph, Mancini had spells at several high-profile clubs, such as Manchester City and Inter Milan.