Jorge Jesus Set to Lead Portugal National Team After Martínez Exit

Jorge Jesus is poised to become the new head coach of Portugal, stepping into the job just days after the country’s painful World Cup exit to Spain.

Portuguese daily “A Bola” broke the news shortly after Roberto Martínez’s departure was confirmed, framing Jesus as the man chosen to lead the national team into a new cycle. Freshly available after his spell in Saudi Arabian football, the 69-year-old coach has quickly emerged as the consensus pick within the Portuguese setup.

A decisive meeting between Jesus and Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), is expected in the coming days, once the federation’s delegation returns from the United States. That sit‑down should finalize the agreement and close one of the most significant coaching appointments in Portugal’s recent history.

Martínez bows out after late heartbreak

The change comes on the back of a brutal finish in the round of 16. Portugal were seconds away from extra time against Spain when Mikel Merino struck deep into stoppage time, sealing a 1-0 defeat and sending their Iberian rivals through.

The final whistle had barely faded when Martínez faced the media and confirmed the end of his tenure.

“It is the end of the cycle. It is important now to have that again, and it is legitimate for the president to choose his national team coach. I am grateful for all the support they gave me,” he said, drawing a clear line under his spell in charge.

A campaign that never fully ignited

Portugal arrived at the 2026 World Cup with one of the most gifted squads in their history, but the tournament never quite bent to their will.

They opened the group stage with a stutter, drawing against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A resounding win over Uzbekistan briefly suggested the machine had clicked into gear, only for a goalless draw with Colombia to drag them back into a more cautious reality. They still advanced, but only as runners-up in the group.

The knockout phase brought a flicker of the resilience expected from a heavyweight. In the second round, Portugal had to claw their way back against Croatia in a tense, physical contest, turning the game around to stay alive in the competition.

Then came Spain. A tight, balanced round-of-16 clash, decided not by a sweeping move or a defensive collapse, but by a single late header from Merino that shattered Portugal’s hopes and, with them, Martínez’s project.

A new cycle under a familiar firebrand

Into that vacuum steps Jorge Jesus, a coach renowned for his demanding standards, aggressive football and uncompromising personality. His arrival signals a reset, not a rebuild: the talent is already there, the expectations unchanged.

The question now is simple and sharp: can Jesus turn this gifted but inconsistent Portugal into a ruthless tournament force when the next chance comes?