Report ex-Italy head coach Mancini nearing new job in the Middle East

Reports on Thursday claim that former Italy national team head coach Roberto Mancini is close to accepting a new job offer in the Middle East with Al Sadd of the Qatar Stars League. 

According to reports from Orazio Accomando of SportMediaset, plus various outlets in the Middle East, Mancini is close to joining Al Sadd as head coach. 

The 60-year-old was in attendance for the Champions League match between Marseille and Atalanta at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday evening. It is understood that he was a guest of Marseille director and former Juventus defender Mehdi Benatia.

Mancini has been out of work for over a year now, following his departure from the role of head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team in October 2024. He had been appointed in the summer of 2023, but was let go by mutual consent after a series of disappointing World Cup qualification results. 

He had resigned from his role as CT of the Italy national team a fortnight before he was appointed as head coach of Saudi Arabia. Under his stewardship, Italy won EURO 2020 in the summer of 2021, the nation’s first silverware since the 2006 World Cup 15 years prior. 

Mancini has also won league titles with Inter and Manchester City, plus domestic cups with Inter, City, Lazio, Fiorentina and Galatasaray.