ARLINGTON, Texas — Roberto Martinez has announced his departure as the coach of the Portugal national team following Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup. He emphasized that the outcome shouldn’t be seen as a “failure.”
Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute, scored the decisive goal in the 91st minute at AT&T Stadium, sending Spain through to the quarterfinals, marking the final World Cup appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Martinez, who took over the Portugal team in 2023, was set to see his contract expire after the tournament.
In a post-match press conference, he stated that it “wouldn’t make sense” to continue following their quarterfinal exit at Euro 2024.
“Yes, this is my last game with the national team,” Martinez confirmed. “I’m proud of my 45 matches and felt welcomed and loved in Portugal. It’s a memory I will cherish forever.”
“It has been a pleasure and a responsibility. While it’s difficult, it’s the end of a cycle, and given the context, it makes complete sense.”
Prior to joining Portugal, Martinez managed Belgium, and has held managerial positions at Everton, Wigan, and Swansea.
Portugal featured one of the most talented rosters in the tournament, including a midfield comprising Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes, along with Ronaldo in attack. Despite this, Martinez refrained from labeling their exit as a failure.
“We didn’t fail,” he asserted. “We lost to a team that’s one of the favorites. Our players demonstrated incredible individual talent. Winning or losing comes down to fine details in critical matches… You truly fail when you stop trying to win, and we fought until the last minute.”
“It’s not just about Portugal,” Martinez added. “Few nations consistently reach the later stages of the World Cup. Achieving that level of consistency is incredibly challenging.”
“Factors like a shot hitting the post can make all the difference. These nuances determine the outcomes in World Cups.”
Martinez also defended his choice to keep Ronaldo on the field for the full match.
“When your team is chasing a goal, you can’t remove Cristiano Ronaldo,” he explained. “He can handle 90 minutes without issue.
“His presence is crucial; he creates space, and in critical situations, removing him wouldn’t make sense. Perhaps substituting Gonçalo Ramos in extra time would have been an option, but during regular time, it was important to maintain our structure and keep our top scorer on the pitch.”