Portugal names Roberto Martinez as their new head coach

Roberto Martinez, a former coach of Belgium, has been named the new manager of Portugal. The Spaniard promised to meet with star player Cristiano Ronaldo to discuss his future with the team.

Martinez, 49, succeeds Fernando Santos, who resigned from his position after Portugal’s shocking World Cup quarterfinal loss to Morocco.

As Martinez stood next to him at a press conference on Monday, Fernando Gomes, president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), said, “I appreciate the excitement and ambition with which he [Martinez] welcomed the invitation.

He declared, “This is a crucial time for the national team.”

Following Belgium’s exit from the World Cup group stage, Martinez announced his resignation as coach, stating that he had already made up his mind to quit his six-year contract and would have done so even if they had won the tournament.

After a protracted tenure as coach, he brought the team to the top of the world rankings and third place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.