Roberto Martinez Out as Portugal Coach After World Cup Loss to Spain

Roberto Martinez is done as Portugal’s head coach. The Portuguese Football Federation made it official Wednesday, confirming his departure after the team’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup Round of 16.

Martinez told reporters after the match that his contract had expired and he wouldn’t be signing a new one. He called the exit “the end of a cycle” and said his goal was always to win the World Cup with Portugal. Falling short, he felt, meant it was time for a change.

The Numbers Look Good. The Result Didn’t.

Martinez took over in January 2023 and did what he usually does: cruise through qualifiers and pick up a trophy. Portugal won the 2025 UEFA Nations League under him. But the World Cup is what matters most for a talent-rich squad like this one, and they didn’t get past the Round of 16. That’s a tough look for a team with players like Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and a 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo still chasing that elusive World Cup title.

The loss to Spain wasn’t a blowout. It was tight, tense, and decided by a single goal. But tight losses in knockout games get managers fired all the same. Martinez’s style, often criticized as too conservative for a squad this deep, came under fresh scrutiny. Fans online pointed to questionable substitutions and a lack of attacking urgency late in the game.

What’s Next for Portugal?

The federation now has to find a replacement, and the rumor mill is already spinning. Veteran Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus has been linked to the vacancy, according to reports. Jesus has managed Benfica, Sporting, and Flamengo, among others, and knows the international player pool well. But nothing is official yet, and the federation hasn’t commented on candidates.

Martinez’s tenure leaves behind a mixed legacy. He won a Nations League, which is real silverware, but couldn’t get Portugal past the last 16 of a World Cup. For a country that won Euro 2016 and has produced some of the best players in Europe over the last decade, that’s going to feel like falling short.

The search for the next guy starts now.