Roberto Martinez is expected to walk away from his role as Portugal’s national team manager once the current World Cup concludes, according to talkSPORT. The 52-year-old Spaniard has reportedly decided against extending his contract, which expires at the end of July, leaving the door wide open for his next move.
This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment call. Martinez has been weighing his future for months, and sources close to the situation indicate he’s ready to explore new challenges. Journalist Alex Crook reports that a return to English football or taking over another national team are both realistic options for the former Everton and Belgium boss.
Martinez took the Portugal job in January 2023, stepping into a role with enormous expectations. He delivered a trophy in 2025, lifting the Nations League after a tense penalty shootout victory over European champions Spain — a 5-3 win that silenced critics who questioned his big-game credentials.
His managerial résumé includes stints at Swansea City, Wigan Athletic, and Everton before he spent a decade managing Belgium’s golden generation. That run ended in 2022 after a disappointing group-stage exit at the World Cup in Qatar. Now, he’s eyeing a fresh start.
Portugal enters this World Cup with a mix of veteran star power and rising talent. Cristiano Ronaldo, the country’s all-time leading scorer, is widely expected to be competing in his final World Cup for the national team. Portugal has never won the tournament, and the pressure to break that drought is intense.
Ruben Amorim had been mentioned as a potential successor to Martinez, but those discussions are now moot. Amorim officially joined Serie A powerhouse AC Milan on Tuesday afternoon, taking himself out of the running for the Portugal job.
Portugal opens its World Cup campaign on Wednesday, June 17, against DR Congo in Houston at 6:00 p.m. local time. They’ll then face Colombia and tournament debutants Uzbekistan in Group K. How far this squad goes could shape Martinez’s legacy — and his next career chapter.
The team has not confirmed any of these reports, and Martinez has not publicly addressed his plans beyond the tournament. But the speculation is building, and the clock is ticking.
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