Roberto Mancini has reached an agreement with Al Sadd to take over as head coach of the Qatari club permanently, succeeding Spaniard Felix Sanchez.
Mancini, who was close to taking over at Nottingham Forest after the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou, appeared at the Al Ahli vs. Al Sadd AFC Champions League match on Tuesday, ahead of signing his contract with the Qatari giants.
Mancini was Al Sadd’s third choice, as the club had pursued Xavi Hernandez, who was reportedly close to accepting the position before ultimately declining.
The club then pursued former Benfica coach Bruno Lage, but disagreements over certain details led to the collapse of negotiations. Al Sadd ultimately turned to Mancini, and the deal was finalized as expected.
Mancini has considerable experience in the Arab world, having previously coached the Saudi national team for two years before being dismissed last year. He has not returned to coaching since, despite receiving offers from Italy and England.
It’s worth noting that Al Sadd’s start to the season has been disastrous. They currently sit seventh in the Qatari league and have yet to secure a victory in the AFC Champions League, suffering two defeats and two draws in their first four matches.
