According to British media, coach Roberto Martinez has decided to leave the Portuguese national team after the 2026 World Cup closes. The current contract between the Spanish strategist and the Portuguese Football Federation is valid until July 2026 and he has no intention of renewing it.
Roberto Martinez took over the Portuguese national team in 2023 and quickly left his mark when he helped the team win the UEFA Nations League 2024-2025 championship. Previously, he had 6 years of coaching the Belgian national team, notably winning third place at the 2018 World Cup.
After many years working at the national team level, Martinez is said to want to return to the club football environment. In the past, he has coached many teams in England such as Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton.
Information about Martinez's departure has created many mixed opinions. A part of fans believe that the timing of announcing the decision is not appropriate as Portugal has not yet played their first match at the 2026 World Cup. They are concerned that this information may affect the psychology and concentration of the players.
However, Portugal still entered the tournament with the ambition to compete for the championship. Martinez has a quality squad with a combination of experience and youth. Pillars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva will stand side by side with the new generation including Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes.
