Portugal’s 2026 World Cup ended in the round of 16 with a 1‑0 defeat to Spain, and within minutes of the final whistle Roberto Martínez had announced his tenure was over. “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,” the 52‑year‑old Spaniard said. On Wednesday the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) formalised the split, confirming it had “officially ended its contractual relationship” with Martínez and his staff. The speed of the announcement reflected a federation determined to reset quickly after a campaign that had begun with a second‑place group finish behind Colombia and a last‑32 win over Croatia, only to stall against La Roja.

Martínez leaves with a mixed legacy. He delivered the 2025 UEFA Nations League title, Portugal’s second in the competition, but oversaw a quarter‑final exit at Euro 2024, eliminated by France on penalties, and now a last‑16 departure at the expanded 48‑team World Cup. His persistent selection of Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, drew scrutiny from pundits in Britain, where the BBC’s Chris Sutton accused him of “pandering” to the forward. Yet the FPF’s statement thanked Martínez for his “professionalism and dedication” over three and a half years, and president Pedro Proença made clear the search for a successor was already under way, telling reporters the new man must “know Portuguese football very well and share the winning mentality of the federation.”

By Wednesday evening, Portuguese and Brazilian outlets were reporting that Jorge Jesus, the 71‑year‑old who has never managed a national team, had emerged as the priority candidate. Jesus is a free agent after leaving Saudi Arabia’s Al‑Nassr in May, where he won the league title while coaching Ronaldo and João Félix. His club CV is built on a decade of dominance at Benfica, a transformative spell at Flamengo that yielded the 2019 Copa Libertadores and Brazilian league double, and a domestic treble with Al‑Hilal. Reports from Lisbon suggest negotiations are advanced, with only bonus structures and the composition of his backroom staff still to be finalised. The FPF is also keen to install former Real Madrid and Porto defender Pepe, who retired in 2024, as part of the coaching setup, a move that would link the new regime to the dressing room’s old guard.

Proença has said he wants a deal concluded by the weekend, and the calendar leaves no room for delay. Portugal begin their Nations League campaign on 24 September at home to Wales, followed by trips to Norway and Denmark in a congested October window. The new coach will be expected to build towards a home European Championship in 2028 and a World Cup in 2030 that Portugal will co‑host with Spain and Morocco. For Jesus, who has turned down recent offers from Saudi Arabia’s national team and Fenerbahçe, the job represents a first chance to shape a national side, and the federation is betting that his intimate knowledge of the country’s talent pool can finally translate a gifted generation’s potential into tournament success.