# Roberto Mancini Appointed New Manager of Saudi Arabia
Two weeks after resigning as Italy head coach, Roberto Mancini has been appointed as the new manager of Saudi Arabia on a contract until 2027. The 58 year old led Italy to victory at Euro 2020, beating England on penalties in the final at Wembley, and went on a world record 37 game unbeaten run before failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
## Roberto Mancini’s Career
Mancini has had a long and successful career in football management, leading Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2012 and managing Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter Milan, Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg along the way.
## Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Performance
In last year’s World Cup under former head coach Herve Renard, Saudi Arabia shocked eventual champions Argentina in a 2-1 win in Qatar but failed to make it out of the group stages.
## Mancini’s Excitement for the New Role
Mancini is excited for the new opportunity to experience football in a new country, especially with the growing popularity of football in Asia:
> “I believe this is a great opportunity for me, to experience football in a new country, especially with the growing popularity of football in Asia,” Mancini said. “The presence of top players in the Saudi Pro League indicates the potential for growth in the national football scene.”
Mancini’s first match in charge will be on 8 September against Costa Rica at St James’ Park, Newcastle and he will be looking to build on Saudi Arabia’s World Cup performance and take them to the next level in Asian football.
## Conclusion
Roberto Mancini is an experienced and successful manager who has achieved success at some of Europe’s biggest clubs and led Italy to victory at Euro 2020. He now has the opportunity to take Saudi Arabia to the next level and build on their impressive World Cup performance from last year with his first match in charge coming up soon against Costa Rica at St James’ Park, Newcastle.