Portugal appoint Jorge Jesus as new head coach

Jorge Jesus has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the Portuguese national football team, the Portuguese Football Federation announced Friday. This move comes just days after Roberto Martínez stepped down in the wake of Portugal's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The federation confirmed Jesus's appointment, ending speculation about who would succeed Martínez after Portugal's 1-0 Round of 16 loss to Spain. Martínez had stated his contract expired at the end of the team's World Cup campaign.

Jesus, 71, brings a wealth of experience from a long and successful managerial career, including previous coaching roles with Portuguese giants Benfica and Sporting CP. His most recent success was guiding Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title. During his time at Al-Nassr, he also had a productive working relationship with Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 29 goals in 33 appearances under his management last season.

Ronaldo, 41, has indicated that the 2026 World Cup was his last, though he has not yet announced his retirement from international football. The federation's swift managerial transition under Jesus signals their intent to rebuild following a disappointing World Cup performance and prepare for upcoming international competitions.