​Portugal has appointed Jorge Jesus as the national team’s new head coach, following the disappointing showing at the World Cup. The 71-year-old coach brings a wealth of experience to the role, having led some of Portugal’s most storied clubs, including Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, and most recently guiding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. He steps into the job after Spaniard Roberto Martinez concluded his tenure following Portugal’s 1-0 World Cup round-of-16 defeat by Spain.
The Portuguese Football Federation announced the appointment on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, saying: “A new journey begins today. Welcome to the National Team, Mister Jorge Jesus.” Jesus parted ways with Al-Nassr last month after a year in charge of the Saudi Pro League club. Under his leadership, with Ronaldo spearheading the attack, Al-Nassr clinched the league title, finishing two points ahead of rivals Al-Hilal. It marked their first league triumph since Ronaldo’s arrival in December 2022.
Jesus’s unveiling as Portugal boss on Friday signals a new era for the national team as they transition from Martinez’s era to the next chapter. It remains to be seen whether Jesus’s arrival could influence Ronaldo’s international future, with the forward weighing his options as he considers his ongoing involvement with Portugal.
Ronaldo contributed three goals at the World Cup—two in a brace against Uzbekistan and a penalty in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Croatia—but he struggled to have a decisive impact in the defeat to Spain. The 41-year-old superstar clarified that he will not participate in another World Cup but did not rule out extending his Portugal career, emphasizing that he would not view his World Cup exit as a failure.
“I’ve won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t won a single title,” Ronaldo remarked, highlighting the significance of the 2016 European Championship, which he described as equally meaningful to a World Cup triumph. “The biggest title the national team has ever won was in 2016, the European Championship, which, to be honest, is just as significant to me as a World Cup.”
“I leave with a clear conscience and giving my best to Portugal. Tomorrow will be a new day and life will go on,” Ronaldo added. He admitted his sadness at departing the World Cup in this fashion, saying, “I gave it my all. I did my best and I’m leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.”
As Portugal looks ahead, Ronaldo remains the most decorated international player in history, accumulating 146 goals in 233 appearances for his country. The challenge for Jorge Jesus will be to integrate a team that has long depended on Ronaldo’s prowess while building a system capable of enduring beyond the veteran forward’s eventual retirement. The coming months will reveal how Jesus’s blueprint for Portugal’s national team will shape hopes for future successes on the international stage.