Portugal Appoint Jorge Jesus as Head Coach after World Cup Exit

Portugal have officially appointed veteran manager Jorge Jesus as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Roberto Martinez following the Seleção's early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the appointment on Friday, just days after Martinez stepped down. His departure came after Portugal's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, with the Spaniard later revealing that his contract had expired at the conclusion of the tournament.

Jesus, 71, arrives with decades of managerial experience and an impressive résumé built across Portugal and abroad. He enjoyed successful spells with Benfica and Sporting CP before leading Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr to the 2025/26 league title.

During his time at Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo thrived under Jesus, finishing the campaign with 29 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.

Jesus now takes charge of Portugal as the federation looks to rebuild ahead of upcoming international competitions. His appointment also comes amid uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo's international future after the veteran forward confirmed that the 2026 World Cup was the final World Cup of his career, although he has yet to announce his retirement from the national team.