Roberto Martínez has resigned as head coach of the Portugal national football team following the country’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Spaniard, who guided Portugal to UEFA Nations League success last year, announced his departure with immediate effect, saying it no longer made sense for him to remain in the role after failing to achieve his primary objective.
Martínez said he accepted the job with the ambition of leading Portugal to World Cup glory and believes the Portuguese Football Federation should now appoint a new manager to take the team forward.
Despite Portugal’s elimination, the former Belgium coach maintained that the campaign should not be viewed as a failure, even amid criticism over his decision to leave 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch for the entire match against Spain.
