Roberto Mancini leaves Al Sadd after Qatar league win, Italy return moves closer
Roberto Mancini has left Al Sadd after just seven months and a Qatar Stars League title, clearing the way for his expected return as Italy head coach. With the FIGC presidential election set for 22 June, both leading candidates have identified the 61-year-old as their preferred choice to replace Gennaro Gattuso.
Departure from Al Sadd
Roberto Mancini announced his exit from Al Sadd on Saturday evening through a video shared by the Qatari club, in which he thanked fans and players for their support during his short tenure. The 61-year-old Italian coach had joined the Doha-based side after an unsuccessful spell as head coach of the Saudi national team, signing a contract that was meant to run until 2027. In his seven months and 25 matches at the helm, he guided Al Sadd to the Qatar Stars League title, though they fell short in the AFC Champions League Elite and lost the Qatar Cup final. The club released a brief statement wishing him well.
A short but precious period, full of memories. Thank you Mancini, we hope our story continues one day. We wish you all the best for your next adventure, see you soon. Ciao ciao.
In his own farewell video, Mancini praised the squad and saved a special mention for the Qatar national team, who begin their World Cup campaign on the day of his departure.
Hello everyone. This video is to thank all Al Sadd fans for the support they gave us, which allowed us to win the league. Thanks to the club for helping me integrate, and thanks to these fantastic players who gave everything for this shirt. Good luck to Qatar today at the World Cup. You will always remain in my heart.
The Italy vacancy
The Italian national team has been without a permanent head coach since April, when Gennaro Gattuso stepped down after a World Cup qualifying defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina. Interim coach Silvio Baldini, promoted from the under-21 side, has overseen two friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece. The FIGC, the Italian football federation, is currently led by a commissioner following the resignation of president Gabriele Gravina, and a presidential election is set for 22 June.
Italian media reports have consistently placed Mancini at the top of the shortlist. Both candidates for the FIGC presidency, Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete, are said to view him as the preferred choice to restore the national team’s fortunes after Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Malagò, who appears to be the frontrunner, has a long-standing friendship with Mancini, though he publicly denied having already spoken with him about the role.
A special bond with the Azzurri
Mancini first took charge of Italy in 2018 and led the team to victory at Euro 2020, the nation’s first European Championship title since 1968. He resigned from the post in 2023 after Italy missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, later taking up lucrative roles with the Saudi Arabia national team and Al Sadd. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport a year ago, published on 12 June 2025, he made no secret of his affection for the Azzurri job.
For a coach, there is nothing more beautiful than leading the national team. I won with clubs, but winning with Italy is something else entirely. One always returns to where one was happy, and at Coverciano I was truly at ease with everyone. There was a really nice atmosphere.
Those remarks, combined with his sudden availability, have intensified expectations that he is about to begin a second spell at Coverciano.
What happens next
The formal appointment cannot be finalised until the FIGC election. Once the new president is elected, the federation is expected to move quickly to confirm Mancini, with Baldini then returning to his under-21 duties. The coach’s earlier departure from Italy for a job in Saudi Arabia, just weeks after securing a new contract in 2023, remains a point of contention among some federation members, but the need for a proven winner appears to outweigh those reservations.
