Saudi Arabia risk repeating Renard mistake after Georgios Donis ends 23-year wait

Saudi Arabia could repeat the mistake that disrupted their preparations for the 2026 World Cup if Georgios Donis is dismissed only months before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The Greek manager ended a 23-year wait for a major honour by leading Saudi Arabia to victory in the Arabian Gulf Cup “Gulf 27” – their first title since winning the same competition in 2003.

However, Donis’s position is now under scrutiny only one month after that success, with reports questioning whether he will remain as Saudi Arabia’s manager. His potential replacement has also become a subject of debate, with former Portugal boss Roberto Martinez being linked with the role.

Martinez previously managed Belgium and Portugal during periods when both teams possessed so-called golden generations, but he did not win a trophy with either side. That has raised questions over why Saudi Arabia would consider removing Donis, who has demonstrated a growing understanding of the team, and replacing him with Martinez ahead of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The main concern is not simply another change of manager or the regular shift between different coaching approaches. It is the timing and the lack of continuity that could affect the players.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has twice denied that Donis is facing dismissal and said he will remain in charge for the foreseeable future. But Saudi journalist Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi, presenter of the “Our Club” programme on MBC 1, said the decision would be made after the next international break in March.

If that report proves accurate, the new manager would have only three international breaks to prepare for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in December, with just one of those periods being relatively long. Whoever succeeds Donis would therefore enter the tournament without a complete knowledge of the squad, while the players would also be adapting to a new manager.

That would echo the events before the 2026 World Cup. In October last year, Herve Renard guided Saudi Arabia to qualification, despite calls for him to be replaced before the tournament. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation repeatedly rejected those demands and insisted Renard would lead the team at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Yet in April, only two months before the tournament, Renard was dismissed and Donis appointed in his place. Despite his efforts, Donis could not repair the situation in time, and Saudi Arabia were eliminated in the group stage after finishing bottom of Group H with two points.

Supporters fear the same sequence could now happen to Donis: repeated denials from the federation, several more months in charge, and then a dismissal shortly before the Asian Cup, making the title an unrealistic target.

The tournament features 48 teams, with the top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams from the 12 groups qualifying. Failure to progress would therefore be difficult to justify.

Saudi Arabia’s display in Gulf 27 showed what might be possible. They won all five matches, scored eight goals without conceding, and claimed the awards for the best player, best goalkeeper and top scorer.

That dominant campaign suggested Donis needed more time to show the team’s full potential. Repeating the same managerial upheaval may indicate that the deeper problem lies not with Donis or Renard, but with the system.