I made a big mistake - Roberto Mancini says after being sacked by Saudi Arabia a year after dumping Italian national team for lucrative contract

Veteran football coach Roberto Mancini has admitted he regrets leaving his role as Italy’s head coach for a job in Saudi Arabia. Mancini stepped down from the Italy job on August 12, 2023, after accepting a lucrative four-year contract to manage Saudi Arabia's national team. However, he was dismissed just a year later following poor results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

In an interview with Il Giornale, Mancini expressed remorse over his decision, saying he would not make the same choice again. “If I could go back, I would handle things differently,” he said. “The trust between me and the Federation had been undermined, but if (FIGC president Gabriele) Gravina and I had spoken openly and clarified things, this might not have happened.”

Mancini acknowledged the difficulty of coaching when confidence wavers, admitting it affected his ability to work calmly. He also blamed himself for not addressing the issues directly. “There was always mutual respect and dialogue between me and Gravina, but at the crucial moment, we didn’t speak clearly, and that was a mistake,” he added.