Portugal were kicked out of the World Cup by Spain in Texas on Monday night and Roberto Martínez is expected to step down as manager after the tournament.
Roberto Martínez has announced that he will resign as Portugal national team coach following the World Cup defeat (Image: Hannah Peters/FIFA)
Coach Roberto Martínez has admitted that Portugal’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup ended after defeat to Spain in the round of 16, but this will be his last time as national team manager.
The former Belgium national team coach had been the Portugal national team coach since January 2023, but he has decided to step down due to Portugal’s early withdrawal from the team.
Mikel Merino’s late goal sealed the team’s fate, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo heartbroken in what could be his last World Cup match.
“The cycle is over,” Martinez told reporters after the game. “It’s important to have new voices, new leaders.
“I will take the memories back with me and hope that Portugal will have good memories in the three and a half years that I was the head coach of the team. It was the experience of my life.”
“It wasn’t decided in advance (that I would leave after the tournament). I came here with the goal of winning the World Cup, but since I didn’t win there was no point in continuing.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal exiled to Spain (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Ronaldo’s international future is also in question after Martinez admitted he would no longer be in charge of the Portugal national team and Ronaldo admitted this would be his last appearance at a World Cup finals.
The 41-year-old stopped short of confirming whether that would extend to international football as a whole.
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