Roberto Martinez has officially concluded his role as head coach of the Portuguese national football team. The announcement from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirms his departure following the team's exit from the World Cup at the last-16 stage, where they were defeated by Spain.
Martinez, who is 52 years old, had been at the helm of the Portuguese squad since January 2023. During his tenure, Portugal secured the UEFA Nations League title in 2025. However, the team's performance in major tournaments has faced scrutiny, particularly their quarter-final exit from Euro 2024 after a penalty shootout loss to France, and now their recent World Cup elimination.
The decision to consistently feature Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up has been a recurring point of contention for Martinez throughout recent global tournaments. Critics, including BBC pundit Chris Sutton, suggested that the coach was 'pandering' to the 41-year-old forward.
Following the 1-0 defeat to Spain, Martinez himself addressed his future, stating, "I came to Portugal with the objective of winning the World Cup and because I haven't won it wouldn't make sense to continue. My contract ends today." This statement indicated a pre-determined decision regarding his tenure if the ultimate goal was not met.
The FPF has confirmed that it has already initiated the process of finding a new coach. Their objective is to appoint a successor who can "continue to promote the ambition and winning culture" within the national team setup, signalling a clear intent to maintain Portugal's competitive standing in international football.