Georgios Donis led Saudi Arabia to a 3-2 friendly win over South Korea in Doha on Friday, 13 November 2026, at a time when the name of Spanish coach Roberto Martinez is still being reported by sports media as a possible candidate to lead the national team.
The reports go back to October. Goal, citing the Saudi channel Al-Riyadiyah, said the federation had reached an agreement with Martinez before the Gulf Cup began, and Asharq Al-Awsat said several sources described a similar deal, while a federation source told the same newspaper that no agreement existed. Martinez is a former head coach of Belgium and Portugal.
The debate returned this week after journalist Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi said on the programme Nadina that Donis was 99% certain to leave. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation responded through Al Ekhbariya, saying the reports of Donis leaving were not true and that work with the national team continues according to its set plans. It was the federation's second denial, after a similar one in October. The federation has not announced any talks with Martinez.
Donis himself addressed the speculation in comments to the newspaper Al Riyadiyah, saying the rumours about his professional future do not concern him, that he has the experience to deal with them and that he will give his best to serve Saudi football.
On the pitch, Marwan Al-Sahafi, Mohammed Kanno and Abdulelah Al-Amri scored for Saudi Arabia at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. The team face Uzbekistan in another friendly on Tuesday, 17 November, in the same camp, as they prepare for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which the Kingdom will host.
Source: Saudi Arabian Football Federation via Al Ekhbariya, Al Riyadiyah, Asharq Al-Awsat, Goal, Al Jazeera
