Roberto Martínez Resigns As Portugal Coach Following World Cup Elimination

Roberto Martínez has officially stepped down as head coach of the Portugal national team following the country’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16.

According to reports, the Spanish tactician confirmed his departure after admitting that continuing in the role would not be appropriate after failing to achieve the major objective he set when he was appointed in 2023.

Martínez, who previously managed clubs including Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton, revealed that his primary ambition upon taking charge of Portugal was to win the World Cup, and with that goal unfulfilled, he believed his time with the team had come to an end.

“I came to Portugal with the objective of winning the World Cup and because I haven’t won it, it wouldn’t make sense to continue,” Martínez said after the defeat. “My contract ends today.”

During his tenure, Martínez guided Portugal to success in the UEFA Nations League in 2025, but the team’s World Cup journey ended prematurely following their loss to Iberian rivals Spain on Monday night.

Despite the disappointing exit, the former Belgium manager praised his players’ efforts, describing the match as Portugal’s best performance of the tournament and insisting that they deserved a chance to take the game into extra time.

Martínez said Portugal competed strongly against one of the tournament favourites, highlighting the team’s defensive organisation and determination throughout the encounter. He added that a lack of luck in front of goal prevented his side from securing a better result.

The departing coach also addressed criticism surrounding Portugal’s attacking style, acknowledging that improvements were needed but maintaining that the team showed enough quality and commitment during the tournament.

On his late substitutions during the match, Martínez explained that his decisions were aimed at maintaining balance and protecting players who were not fully fit to complete the entire game.

Meanwhile, former England striker Chris Sutton criticised Martínez’s management of Portugal, arguing that the coach failed to maximise the quality available within the squad. Sutton also compared the situation to Martínez’s previous spell with Belgium, where he was criticised for not delivering major international success despite having a talented generation of players.

Martínez’s exit now leaves Portugal searching for a new manager to lead the team into their next international campaign.