The reporter reported coldly After Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Bahrain on October 15, Mancini entered the countdown after his dismissal. On the 16th, the Saudi Ministry of Sports, the senior management of the Football Association and Mancini held an emergency meeting in Jeddah, but because the termination negotiations between the Saudi Football Association and Mancini were inconclusive, the official announcement of the Italy coach's dismissal that the Saudi media and fans were looking forward to did not come. But everyone is aware that the countdown to Mancini's departure from Saudi Arabia has begun.

There were too many signs of Mancini's dismissal

The Saudi Football Federation did not officially announce Mancini's dismissal after the emergency meeting on October 16, and Saudi media pointed out that the Riyadh victory and Riyadh youth league on October 18 was a bellwether for Mancini's fate. Mancini and the assistant coach had previously been on hand to watch the big four Saudi giants play, but the absence of Mancini's coaching staff meant that the Italy no longer felt the need to scout the players. After this game, many Saudi media outlets posted that it was only a matter of time before Mancini was dismissed.

On October 19, Saudi journalist Waleed · Faraj revealed in his "Waleed Action" program that the Saudi Football Association's termination negotiations with Mancini are still ongoing, but Mancini's fate has been decided. He responded to questions from fans about Mancini, suggesting that Mancini was one step away from saying goodbye to the Saudi team.

The timing of Mancini's dismissal depends on the Saudi Football Federation and his termination negotiations. Mancini's contract release fee is €30 million, but the Italy coach wants the Saudi Football Federation to pay his salary for the remainder of his contract. Mancini's contract with the Saudi Football Federation does not end until February 2027, and his annual salary after tax is up to 25 million euros, which means that the Saudi Football Federation may have to pay a whopping 58 million euros, which is the focus of the deadlock in negotiations between the two sides. The Saudi Football Federation wants to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with Mancini to terminate the contract early if both parties agree. Mancini needs to commit that he will not appeal to FIFA for the remainder of his contract.

However, Saudi Prince Ben ·Rahman's statement also indirectly confirmed the attitude of the Saudi top level towards Mancini. He posted on his social media account that Mancini was not suitable for the Saudi national team, and stressed that more young Saudi players should play in the Euroleague like Rome's Abdulhamid. At the same time, the Saudi Football Federation should, like other Asian football associations, actively promote the inclusion of naturalized players in the team and improve the strength of the Saudi national team.

Saudi Kooora published an article hoping that the Saudi Football Association can reflect on the selection of coaches, why Calderon (2005), Van Marwijk (2017) and Hainach (2021), who were not top in fame and salary before, can lead the Saudi team to the World Cup, while big-name coaches Rijkaard and Mancini are bad? The Saudi team needs the right coach, not a famous coach who is not familiar with Saudi football.

This means that the coach who succeeds Mancini will not be a big-name coach with a world-class reputation. The Saudi Football Federation's list of candidates for the new coach even includes a homegrown coach. Within the Football Association, there is a need to consider homegrown coaches, like Johar, who succeeded Santraci in 2001, who can lead the team around to the World Cup.

The strong return of the predecessor Heinach?

The Saudi Football Federation is negotiating a termination of Mancini's contract at the same time as it is also negotiating a new manager. France coach Hainach, who led Saudi Arabia to the 2022 World Cup finals three years ago, is widely considered the best choice. Heinach left the Saudi team at the end of March last year, turned down many invitations from Arab regional football associations, and chose to coach the France women's national team for this year's Paris Olympics. After the Paris Olympics, Heinach left the France Football Federation. The two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner is not short of invitations, he is just waiting for the Saudi Football Federation.

Hainach has the advantage of being familiar with Saudi football, especially the national team, and has a successful experience of leading the team to World Cup qualifying. However, the Saudi Football Federation needs to reach a termination agreement with Mancini before it can make room for Hainach to take over. Saudi media also revealed that negotiations between the Saudi Football Association and Hainach have in fact begun, and the coach change is likely to be carried out simultaneously. However, Hainach is not the only candidate for a new manager in the Saudi Football Federation. At the end of last week, the Saudi media even reported that Zidane was asked about the possibility of Zidane coaching through acquaintances, but no offer was made.

In addition to Hainach, another candidate who is considered a possible interim coach is 43-year-old Saudi homegrown coach Mohammadi. He has been an assistant coach of the Saudi U23 national team since 2016 and became the head coach of the Saudi U23 national team in the summer of 2017. In November 2019, Mohammadi became the firefighting coach of the Jeddah National team as an assistant coach. In September 2020, he became the head coach of the Saudi Under-20 national youth team, leading the team to back-to-back titles in the 2021 and 2022 Arab Under-20 Youth Championships, the only two titles of the Saudi U20 national youth team in this competition.

However, in the U20 Asian Cup at the beginning of 2023, the Saudi Arabian team led by him stopped in the group stage with 1 win and 2 losses, including a 0-2 loss to the Chinese U20 national youth team and missed the U20 World Youth Championship. At the Arab Games in July, the Saudi U20 national youth team defeated Algeria in the semifinals and Syria on penalties in the final to win the men's gold medal. Mohammadi has the advantage of being familiar with this group of young Saudi players, including midfielders Juwar, Sahafi and striker Latif and other widely expected future stars. In April this year, Mohammadi left the Saudi Football Federation to coach the Saudi league club Rasdecid, but failed to succeed in relegation, and led the team to the Saudi second division this season.

Morocco coach Almuta, who is coaching the U.A.E. peninsula of Abu Dhabi, is also a candidate, but like Mohammadi, he will need to leave his current club, meaning a release fee will need to be negotiated. A new era for the Saudi team has begun, and Saudi fans may have to wait a little longer.