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Roberto Martinez has officially stepped down as Portugal’s head coach after his side’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup round of 16. The former Everton and Belgium manager admitted there was “no reason to continue” following the team’s early exit, opening the door for Jorge Jesus to become his likely successor.

High expectations end flatly

Portugal’s campaign came to an abrupt end when Mikel Merino’s late strike sealed a 1-0 win for Spain, sending the Selecao out of the tournament earlier than expected. Despite possessing a talented midfield featuring Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, and Vitinha, Portugal’s performances under Martinez failed to inspire confidence throughout the competition. The inability to meet their lofty goal of winning the World Cup prompted Martinez to resign immediately after the defeat.

Official statement from Martinez

Addressing the media during his post-match press conference in Dallas, the Spanish tactician confirmed that his decision to leave, marking the end of a tenure that began in January 2023, was final.

Martinez said: “I came to Portugal to win the World Cup, and I think that without winning it, there’s no point in continuing. The board and the president now have the opportunity to choose the new manager… my contract ends today.”

He added: “There isn’t much more to say. I’m very proud… I’ve felt welcomed as just another Portuguese person in a very warm way. It’s been a pleasure, a source of pride, and a responsibility.”

Golden generation under scrutiny

Martinez’s departure has reignited debates across the football world about his track record with talented squads. Before failing to get the best out of Portugal’s current group, the 52-year-old was widely criticised for not securing major honours with Belgium’s so-called ‘golden generation’ during his time in charge.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the national federation has identified former Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus as the top candidate to lead the team’s next major project.

New era under Jesus?

The 71-year-old veteran coach is expected to meet Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca soon to finalise contract details once the team returns to Lisbon. Jesus faces a challenging task of rebuilding the squad’s mindset ahead of the Euro 2028 qualification campaign, particularly as Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future remains uncertain. Looking further ahead, his mission will include laying the groundwork for the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco.