Roberto Martínez resigns as Portugal head coach

Martínez also did not comment on his own future as a coach. „Zu dessen Zukunft im Nationalteam machte der seit 2023 amtierende Martinez keine Angaben“, the source wrote. A return to club football is therefore just as possible as a break.

Record: 2025 Nations League title

Martínez had only been Portugal head coach since 2023. His tenure included winning the 2025 Nations League, which the also highly talented Portuguese squad claimed under his leadership. The title was regarded as the greatest achievement of his tenure, but could not overshadow the aspiration to lift the World Cup trophy.

Before his stint in Portugal, the Spaniard had managed the Belgian national team from 2016 to 2022. With their so-called „Golden Generation,“ however, a title eluded him. Belgium under Martínez also faltered at the crucial moment in the major tournaments.

Stops along a wandering life

Before that, Martínez worked in English football. After stints at Swansea City and Wigan, with whom he won the FA Cup in 2013 alongside Paul Scharner, he moved to Everton. This phase in club football shaped his reputation as a coach who can hold his own even in difficult leagues.

The Portuguese federation now faces the task of presenting a successor in a short period of time. With stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, a squad is available that, according to Martínez, has the potential for the title — but has so far failed to deliver. The coming weeks will show which direction the federation is heading.

Open questions about the succession

Initial names are already being floated behind the scenes, but no official confirmations have been issued. Martínez's resignation is part of a series of coaching changes following major tournaments and underscores the growing expectations placed on Europe's leading federations.

The match against Spain is seen as a sporting turning point: with the round-of-16 exit, not only did the Portuguese dream of the World Cup trophy come to an end, but so did the tenure of a coach who shaped the Seleção over three years. The federation is expected to draw up a detailed assessment of his work in the coming days.