News in Brief
Romanian coach Reghecampf linked with Esteghlal
Romanian coach Laurentiu Aurelian Reghecampf has been linked with a move to Iran’s Esteghlal football club.
He began his coaching career in the Romanian club Snagov in 2009, wrote Tasnim News Agency
The 49-year-old coach has also led Emirati clubs Al Wahda and Al Wasl.
Reghecampf has coached Romanian giant Steaua București and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
He has most recently worked as head coach in Al-Tai in the Saudi First Division League.
Esteghlal has been without a head coach since parting ways with Javad Nekounam two weeks ago.
Saudi players cannot live in the past, warns coach Mancini
Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini warned his players not to rest on their previous achievements as he seeks to reinvigorate his team’s challenge for an automatic berth at the 2026 World Cup, Reuters reported on Saturday.
Mancini saw his side slip to a 2-0 loss in Jeddah on Thursday against a Japan side that has dominated Asia’s third round of preliminaries to leave the Saudis playing catch-up in the race for World Cup qualification.
Saudi Arabia are looking to book a spot at a third consecutive World Cup – and seventh in total – with Mancini telling his players they cannot rely on historic performances to confirm their passage to North America in two years’ time.
“We don’t live in the past, the important thing is to qualify regardless of the ranking,” said Mancini, who took over as the long-term replacement for Herve Renard in August 2023.
“Three years ago the situation was different. Maybe the players were playing more or were younger. We have to deal with the current situation.”