The Saudi Arabian Football Association (SFA) has resolutely announced that its partnership with national team manager Vincenzo Vicenzi will come to an end after just 14 months of working together. The Italian coach, who is in his sixties, will reportedly receive compensation of up to 30 million euros (HK$250 million) when his contract is terminated, even though he is considered an "unemployed winner".
In August last year, Vincennes abruptly resigned from his Italian coaching post and switched to the arms of Saudi Arabian soccer as the head coach of the national team, earning an annual salary of up to 25 million euros (about 210 million Hong Kong dollars). However, his coaching career was not as brilliant as expected. In his 18 matches in charge of Saudi Arabia, Vincennes only managed seven wins and five defeats, including a close finish at the bottom of the top 16 in the Asian zone in January this year. During this period, there was a lot of discord within the team.
After a 0-0 draw with Bahrain in Group C of the third round of the Asian zone, Saudi Arabia won only four matches under Vincennes. At that time there were rumors that Vincennes could be sacked, and now that prediction has become a reality. Saudi media revealed that they will pay 30 million euros in compensation for Vincennes. The Saudi Arabian FA plans to unveil a new managerial candidate in the near future.
