Qatari giants Al Sadd officially confirmed the appointment of Italian manager Roberto Mancini as their new head coach, effective immediately.
The 60-year-old, who has been out of management since his dismissal from the Saudi Arabia national team in October 2024, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract running until the end of the 2025-26 season, with an exit clause allowing him to leave in the summer of 2026.
This move comes as Al Sadd seek to revitalize their campaign after a disappointing start to the season.
Al Sadd, the most decorated club in Qatari football with 16 Qatar Stars League titles, parted ways with their previous head coach, Spaniard Felix Sanchez, on October 15, 2025, following a string of poor results.
Assistant coach Sergio Alegre stepped in as interim manager but could not turn the tide, leaving the club in need of a proven leader to restore their dominance.
Mancini takes the reins at Al Sadd, which sits sixth in the Qatari top-flight with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of table-topper Al-Gharafa.
His most successful spell as a manager came during his time with Inter. He led Inter to three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs during his first spell at the club between 2004-2008.
He also guided Italy to the 2020 European Championship title and led Manchester City to its first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 campaign.
Mancini was linked with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October.