Roberto Martinez's three-and-a-half-year reign as Portugal head coach is officially over. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday that his contract had expired and would not be renewed, bringing the curtain down on a tenure that ended with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup round of 16.
The End of an Era for Portugal
Martinez, the 52-year-old Spaniard, had indicated in the immediate aftermath of the loss to Spain that he would be leaving the role, and the PFF moved quickly to make the separation official. In a formal statement, the federation said: "The Portuguese Football Federation announces that it officially ended its contractual relationship with the National Team Coach, Roberto Martinez, and his coaching staff this Wednesday."
The defeat to Spain was Portugal's second consecutive early exit from a major tournament under Martinez — they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 — and those results ultimately cost the former Everton and Belgium boss his position. Despite winning 85 per cent of his games in charge and guiding Portugal through a perfect qualification campaign for this World Cup, the knockout-stage exits proved too damaging to overlook.
A Manager Who Divided Opinion
Martinez was appointed in January 2023, arriving with a strong reputation built largely on his time as Belgium head coach, where he took the Red Devils to the top of the FIFA World Rankings and guided them to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. He brought structure, pressing intensity and an attacking identity to Portugal — but questions about his big-game management, and his team's inability to perform under the most intense knockout pressure, followed him throughout.
He also had to manage one of the most delicate situations in international football: the fading influence of Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward's emotional farewell from the 2026 World Cup, pictured leaving the pitch in tears after the Spain defeat, was one of the defining images of the tournament's early rounds — and Martinez had done his best to make the transition as smooth as possible without quite managing it.
What Next for Portugal?
Portugal now face a significant rebuild ahead of the 2030 World Cup, with the post-Ronaldo era requiring careful management. The federation will now begin the search for a new head coach, with names such as Jose Mourinho, Paulo Fonseca and several leading European coaches expected to be considered.
The talent in the Portuguese squad remains exceptional — Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix and Ruben Neves are all at the peak of their powers — and whoever takes over will inherit a group with genuine world-class ability. The task will be to provide the tactical clarity and big-match mentality that Martinez, for all his qualities, was ultimately unable to deliver consistently on the biggest stage.
Source: Sky Sports | Image: Roberto Martinez, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) | soloscore.com
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