Roberto Mancini (foto: Getty Images)
Roberto Mancini has left Al Sadd after guiding the Qatari club to the league title, and speculation is already growing about a possible return to the Italy national team.
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Roberto Mancini is once again available for a new challenge.
The experienced Italian coach has officially left Al Sadd after leading the Qatari club to the national championship title, bringing an end to a short but successful spell in the Middle East.
Mancini arrived in Qatar last December and needed only a few months to add another trophy to his impressive coaching résumé.
The 61-year-old departs with a league title and leaves behind a club that quickly benefited from his experience and winning mentality.
Now attention turns to his next destination.
One possibility immediately stands out: a return to the Italy national team.
Mancini coached the Azzurri between 2018 and 2023 and enjoyed one of the greatest moments in recent Italian football when he guided the country to victory at Euro 2020.
His reign, however, was not without controversy.
The biggest disappointment came when Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a shocking setback for one of football's traditional powers.
Since then, the situation has hardly improved.
Italy also failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, extending a crisis that many believe has affected the national team for nearly two decades.
Since lifting the World Cup trophy in 2006, the Azzurri have struggled to maintain their place among football's elite. Even when they have qualified for major tournaments, performances have often fallen short of expectations.
Mancini's coaching career has taken him across Europe and beyond.
Before his move to Qatar, he managed clubs including Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter, Manchester City, Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg.
At international level, he coached both Italy and Saudi Arabia, although his Saudi adventure lasted only a little over a year before ending after 18 matches.
His decision to leave Italy for Saudi Arabia generated significant criticism at the time, particularly given the strong connection he had built with Italian supporters following the European Championship triumph.
Today, the Italian national team is being guided on an interim basis by Silvio Baldini, who also serves as coach of the country's Under-21 side.
Whether the Italian Football Federation considers bringing Mancini back remains to be seen.
What is certain is that the veteran coach remains one of the most accomplished managers available on the market. Winning a league title in Qatar has done little to damage his reputation, and several clubs and national teams are likely to monitor his next move closely.
For now, Mancini can enjoy a familiar feeling: another trophy secured and another chapter completed.