Former Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez has been appointed Portugal new handler.
Martinez’s appointment was announced on Portugal’s national team Twitter handle.
Martinez replaces Fernando Santos, who resigned after Portugal’s quarter-final defeat by Morocco at the World Cup last month.
The 49-year-old quit as Belgium coach after six years in charge following their group-stage exit in Qatar.
“I am very happy to represent one of the national teams with the best talent in the world,” Martinez said.
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“I am very excited to be here. From the first time I spoke with the president of the federation I knew this was a sporting project that would excite me.
“I understand there are great expectations and big objectives, but there is a great team of people at the federation and I have great excitement that together we can achieve those objectives.”
Portugal football president Fernando Gomes said: “This is an important moment for the national team.”
Martinez spent four years as Wigan manager, which included winning the 2013 FA Cup, before a three-year spell at Everton in which they finished fifth once and 11th twice in the Premier League.
Appointed Belgium coach in 2016, he led them to the top of the Fifa rankings in 2018 after they came third at the World Cup in Russia.
Portugal won the 2016 European Championship and the 2018-19 Nations League during Santos’ eight years in charge.
However, they won only one of their three group matches in Qatar and their campaign was overshadowed by Santos dropping forward Cristiano Ronaldo for the knockout matches.
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COMMENTS
Several coaches are now unemployed due to Morocco’s exploits at the last world cup.
Martinez himself lost his Belgium job after failure to qualify from their group, the disastrous consequence of defeat to the Atlas Lions in their second group game. However, he has Morocco to thank for his new job, as his predecessor Santos also quit after defeat to Morocco.
As for Portugal, they have tried THEIR OWN, and THEIR OWN too has tried his best. But as a serious, ambitious football country, they want more success. Time to hire the best money can buy.