Martinez officially leaves Portugal coaching amid links with Jorge Jesus

According toSoccernews.

Background

Roberto Martinez took over as Portugal coach in 2023 after a successful spell with Belgium, where he recorded 30 wins in 45 matches. But the team's performance in the 2026 World Cup was disappointing, leading to him ending his association with the national team.

Why this matters

The departure of Roberto Martinez as coach of Portugal comes at a sensitive time after the exit from the 2026 World Cup, as many expected the team to perform better. Despite the presence of distinguished players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Vitinha, the performance was not at the desired level, which affected the team’s hopes in the tournament.

Key Takeaways

Martinez officially leaves Portugal coaching amid links with Jorge Jesus.
Martinez is leaving Portugal's coaching staff following their World Cup exit, with speculation surrounding the appointment of Jorge Jesus as his successor.
Roberto Martinez remains central to Portugal's plans.

The Portuguese Football Federation has officially confirmed that Roberto Martinez will leave his position as coach of the national team following the exit from the World Cup. Martinez previously announced that he would leave the team following the defeat to Spain, taking over as Portugal coach in 2023 after a successful six-year spell with the Belgian national team.

Despite having a strong group of players, Portugal had a disappointing performance in the tournament, exiting in the round of 16 after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Spain. Portugal achieved second place in Group K after drawing with DR Congo and Colombia, and surpassed Croatia with a narrow 2-1 win, with Josko Gvardiol's potential equalizer ruled out for offside in the 13th minute of stoppage time.

Martinez's performance was criticized by the media, as Cristiano Ronaldo started all five matches, playing 441 minutes, while the only player who played more than him was defender Renato Vega. Martinez was also criticized when he withdrew Vitinha, the Paris Saint-Germain star, in the final minutes of the Spain match, leaving Goncalo Ramos, who scored the winning goal against Croatia, on the bench.

Martinez led Portugal to the UEFA Nations League title last year, but also saw the team exit in the quarter-finals against France at Euro 2024. Martinez has won 30 in 45 matches (d9, won 6), giving him a win rate of 66.7%.

The Portuguese Federation said in a statement: “The Portuguese Football Federation announces that the contractual association with the national coach, Roberto Martinez, and his technical team has officially ended today. We thank Martinez and his team for the professionalism and dedication over the past three and a half years, which witnessed achieving the Nations League title in 2025. The President of the Portuguese Football Federation is already working on appointing the next national coach, with the aim of strengthening the ambition and winning culture that must guide the national team in all the competitions in which it participates.”

Portugal's move to Jorge Jesus has been strongly rumored after Portuguese FA president Pedro Brinka confirmed that Martinez's successor must have experience in Portuguese football, although he noted "there are several possibilities" in their search for a new coach.

The Portuguese national team has been criticized for its performance in the knockout stages, losing or being eliminated in six of its last eight World Cup matches, having lost only one of its first five matches. In the match against Spain, Portugal did not register a single shot on target in the second half, registering only five attempts overall, two of which came in stoppage time.

It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will continue with the national team under the new coach, after he announced that he played his last World Cup match on Monday. Although he has ruled out playing in the World Cup in 2030, he has not announced his international retirement, stressing that he will not make any "reckless decisions" about his future. Ronaldo scored three goals at this year's World Cup, including his first goal in the knockout stages from a penalty kick against Croatia, but he finished the tournament attempting 17 shots without scoring a team-mate, the most by any player in World Cup history (since 1966).

Ronaldo is the only player to have played at least 500 minutes in the 2022 and 2026 World Cups without defeating an opponent, while his eight World Cup defeats are the highest on par with Matthew Leckie, Son Heung-min, Antonio Carbajal and Hong Myung-bo.

What happens next

With speculation about the appointment of Jorge Jesus as Martinez's successor, it will be important to monitor how this change affects Portugal's preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The new coach will have to rebuild the team and improve performance to ensure Portugal's success in the upcoming tournaments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the result of the Portugal vs. Spain match?

Portugal exited the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Spain.

How did Portugal's exit from the World Cup affect the group standings?

Portugal achieved second place in Group K after drawing with Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, and a difficult victory over Croatia.

What is Roberto Martinez's win rate with Portugal?

Martinez has racked up 30 wins in 45 matches for Portugal, giving him a win rate of 66.7%.

When was Portugal's last match in the World Cup?

Portugal's last match in the World Cup was against Spain, played in the round of 16.

Who is the potential new coach for Portugal after Martinez leaves?

The President of the Portuguese Federation is already working on appointing the next national coach, but the name of the new coach has not yet been announced.