Portugal Part Ways with Roberto Martinez After World Cup Exit, Begin Search for New Head Coach

Lisbon, July 2026 : The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has officially confirmed the departure of national team head coach Roberto Martinez, bringing an end to his three-and-a-half-year tenure following Portugal’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026. The decision comes after Portugal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, ending their hopes of lifting football’s biggest prize.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, the FPF announced that its contractual relationship with Martinez and his coaching staff had formally concluded. The federation thanked the Spanish coach for his professionalism, commitment and dedication throughout his tenure, during which Portugal captured the UEFA Nations League title in 2025.

“The Portuguese Football Federation informs that the contractual relationship with national team coach Roberto Martinez and his technical staff officially ended this Wednesday,” the statement said.

The federation praised Martinez for the manner in which he represented Portuguese football and acknowledged his contribution to the national team’s progress over the past three and a half years.

“The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its gratitude to Roberto Martinez and his coaching staff for their professionalism and dedication throughout the last three and a half years. This period was highlighted by winning the UEFA Nations League in 2025. We also thank him for the commitment, professionalism and respect with which he embraced this project and always represented Portugal and Portuguese football,” the FPF added.

Martinez, who took charge of Portugal in 2023 after leaving Belgium, had entered the World Cup with the ambition of leading one of football’s most talented squads to global glory. Despite an impressive qualification campaign and a strong run in international competitions, Portugal fell short in the knockout stages after being edged out by Spain.

Following the defeat, Martinez confirmed that his time as Portugal’s head coach had come to an end, saying it was the appropriate moment for the team to move in a new direction.

“This is the end of a cycle. It is important to have a new voice and a new leader,” Martinez said after Portugal’s exit.

The former Belgium coach revealed that his departure had not been decided before the tournament began. However, he admitted that failing to achieve the team’s ultimate objective made it difficult to justify continuing in the role.

“I came here with the objective of winning the World Cup. Since I did not achieve that goal, there is no point in continuing,” he said.

Reflecting on his spell with Portugal, Martinez described it as one of the most rewarding experiences of his career. He said he would cherish the memories created during his time with the national team and hoped Portuguese supporters would remember his tenure positively.

“I leave with wonderful memories, and I hope Portugal also remembers these three and a half years in a positive way. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed that its president has already begun the process of identifying a new national team coach. The federation said the next appointment would focus on preserving Portugal’s winning culture while guiding the team through future international competitions, including the next UEFA European Championship and the 2030 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Team Maverick