New Saudi Arabia manager Roberto Mancini: Our target is to win Asian Cup 2023

Roberto Mancini has set his sights on winning the 2023 Asian Cup with Saudi Arabia, but stressed hard work is the only secret to success as he conveyed his pride at being chosen as the national team’s new manager.

The Italian, who guided his homeland to the 2020 European Championship, was on Monday introduced as Herve Renard’s replacement having agreed to a contract through until 2027. Mancini, 58, resigned from the Italy national team on August 13 after five years in charge.

The former Sampdoria and Lazio forward's first training camp with Saudi Arabia takes place during next month’s international break, where the team will face Costa Rica and South Korea in friendlies in Newcastle, England. The matches act as part of preparations for the second round of qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, which begins in November.

Sitting alongside Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser Al Misehal at a press conference in Riyadh, Mancini said: “I thank the president for choosing me as the Saudi [Arabia] manager and I’m very proud to be here.

“It's true I know all the Italian players, so for us now, the next 10 days will be very important. But in the last 10 days we started to watch a lot of videos about the teams, about the players. Also, we have four friendly matches [two in October] before we start qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and we have enough time.

“We knew also about the team because we watched their games, also from [last year’s 2022] World Cup and we knew there are some talented players."

Mancini, a three-time Serie A winner as Inter Milan manager and the mastermind behind Manchester City’s first Premier League title, in 2012, has been tasked not only with leading Saudi Arabia to a third successive