Portugal moved swiftly to reset after their World Cup round-of-16 exit, appointing Jorge Jesus as head coach on a contract that runs until the 2030 tournament. The announcement, made by the Portuguese Football Federation on Friday, came just four days after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the United States ended a campaign that had already prompted Roberto Martínez to step down. Jesus, who left Saudi club Al-Nassr in May after delivering the Pro League title, takes charge of a senior national team for the first time in a career spanning nearly four decades.

Viewed from Lisbon, the appointment marks a return to a familiar figure who built his reputation at Benfica and Sporting, winning multiple domestic trophies before embarking on a peripatetic second act. His most celebrated stint outside Portugal came at Brazil’s Flamengo, where he claimed the 2019 Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão in a single season. More recently, his Saudi sojourn brought him into daily contact with Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 29 goals in 33 appearances under him last term. The federation has not disclosed financial terms, but Portuguese media report a salary of around €4 million annually—roughly a third of what he earned at Al-Nassr.

At his unveiling, Jesus addressed the question that has shadowed the national team since the Spain defeat: the role of the 41-year-old captain. “Cristiano will never be a problem for the national team, nor for me,” he said, adding that he would call up the forward as long as he is playing and fit. He revealed he had not yet spoken to Ronaldo but intended to discuss the player’s future, noting that Ronaldo had repeatedly told him he would finish his club career at Al-Nassr. To underline his willingness to make hard calls, Jesus recalled a blunt exchange with Neymar during their time together at Al-Hilal: “I told him, ‘You, finish.’” The anecdote, widely reported in the Brazilian and Portuguese press, served as a signal that reputation alone will not guarantee minutes.

Jesus inherits a side that must rebuild trust after a tournament in which the attack, built around Ronaldo, managed only a single goal in the knockout phase. His first test arrives on 24 September, when Portugal face Wales in the UEFA Nations League. Beyond that lies a long runway to Euro 2028 and a 2030 World Cup co-hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco—a horizon that gives the new coach time to reshape the squad while managing the final chapter of its most iconic player.