Martínez era ends after Spain defeat
Portugal are preparing for a new chapter after Roberto Martínez confirmed that his time as national team coach is over.
The decision follows Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16, a result that ended their World Cup campaign far earlier than expected.
According to talkSPORT, Martínez said after the match that he would step down immediately, with his contract expiring after the tournament.
He had arrived in 2023 with the clear ambition of winning the World Cup. After failing to reach that target, the Spanish coach admitted that Portugal needed a new voice.
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Jorge Jesus emerges as frontrunner
Attention has quickly turned to Jorge Jesus.
According to A Bola, the possibility of Jesus succeeding Martínez after the World Cup was already viewed as a realistic scenario inside Portuguese football.
The 71-year-old is one of the most decorated Portuguese coaches of his generation, with major success at Benfica, Flamengo, Al Hilal and Al Nassr.
His arrival would also mark a major stylistic shift. Jesus is known for strong tactical ideas, demanding dressing rooms and attacking football, but he has built his career almost entirely at club level. Taking charge of Portugal would be his first senior national-team job.
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Proença faces decisive call
The final decision now rests with the Portuguese Football Federation and its president, Pedro Proença.
Before the tournament, Proença had avoided committing publicly to either Martínez or a possible successor. According to A Bola, he said the issue would be resolved quickly after the World Cup and refused to discuss names while Portugal were still competing.
That moment has now arrived.
Portugal’s early exit has made the coaching question unavoidable, and Jesus’ availability gives the federation an obvious candidate with experience, personality and a strong reputation among Portuguese supporters.
A new cycle begins
Portugal’s defeat to Spain was not only the end of a tournament. It also closed the Martínez cycle.
The former Belgium coach delivered the 2025 Nations League title, but his Portugal spell will be judged by two disappointing major tournaments: a Euro 2024 quarter-final exit and a World Cup campaign that ended at the first knockout hurdle.
Jesus would inherit a squad still packed with talent, but also one facing difficult questions about identity, leadership and the role of senior players.
For Portugal, the next appointment is about more than replacing Martínez.
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It is about deciding what kind of team the Seleção wants to become after another World Cup disappointment.
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