Roberto Mancini eyes Asian Cup as he seals lucrative Saudi move
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
New Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini poses with Yasser Al-Misehal, president of Saudi Arabia Football Federation, during a press conference.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
RIYADH – Roberto Mancini said he hoped to lead Saudi Arabia to Asian Cup success within months as he signed a multi-million dollar deal on Monday, just a fortnight after quitting as Italy coach.
The former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss held up a green shirt that read “Mancini 2027” after inking a contract to stay with the Green Falcons beyond the next World Cup.
The 58-year-old, who has insisted that the oil-rich monarchy had “nothing to do” with his shock Italy exit, was reportedly offered more than US$25 million (S$33.9 million) a year to join the big-spending Saudis.
“I’m not a magician,” said the Italian, when asked what he could promise the Saudi people – before pledging to go for Asian Cup glory in January-February in Qatar.
“Our target is to try to win the Asian Cup,” he added, noting that the Saudis had not won it since 1996.
“We have four months. We have four friendly matches. We have two games for the World Cup (qualifiers) and after we have 20 days to prepare for the Asian Cup.
“We know that there are many top teams like Japan, like Australia, like (South) Korea. But I’m sure that we’ll go there and we’ll try to win.”
Mancini is the latest high-profile acquisition for the world’s top oil exporter, which has snapped up some of football’s marquee players in a spree costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
He arrived in Riyadh just days after Brazilian superstar Neymar was presented to fans in the capital, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and a host of others in the Saudi Pro League.
Building a creditable national team is seen as a major plank of the Saudi football transformation, which is part of ambitious plans to reshape the oil-reliant economy and burnish the ultra-conservative country’s image.
The Saudis lie 54th in the world rankings, way below some of their Asian peers. The women’s team, who played their first games only in 2022, are 172nd out of 186 teams.
The Green Falcons, who upset eventual winners Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup’s group stage but did not progress, have been without a coach since March, when Herve Renard left to take charge of France’s women’s team.
Mancini’s resignation from the Italy job came as a major shock, as earlier in August he had been handed responsibility for the country’s Under-21 and Under-20 teams. He was replaced by former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti.
His first match with Saudi Arabia will be a friendly against Costa Rica on Sept 8 at St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United, who are owned by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund.
The Saudis will also play a friendly against South Korea at the same venue on Sept 12. AFP
