Martinez Dismisses Speculation About Leaving Portugal Post After World Cup

Roberto Martinez has addressed rumors regarding his potential departure from his position as head coach of Portugal following the World Cup, labeling them as “not news.” In a statement released on Tuesday, he affirmed that both he and the Portuguese national team are fully committed to the upcoming tournament in North America, despite ongoing speculation about his future.

The 52-year-old coach, who previously managed Everton and Wigan, has been the subject of discussions linking him to a possible return to the Premier League or a different national team role. A representative from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) clarified to the Press Association, stating, “The FPF and Roberto Martinez are focused exclusively on the World Cup. The federation and the coach are aligned on this matter, as they have publicly stated.”

At a press conference in Houston on Tuesday, where he previewed Portugal’s opening match against DR Congo, Martinez responded to inquiries about his future. “It’s not news,” he remarked, as noted by the Portuguese publication A Bola. “We’ve already talked a lot about this in Portugal. Here it may be different, but in Portugal we’ve already talked a lot about it.”

He emphasized that his priority remains on the World Cup, stating, “The important thing is the World Cup. My contract ends after the World Cup; I don’t think that’s news. It’s a fact. It’s a fact, isn’t it… it’s not news.” Martinez's current contract will expire at the tournament's conclusion, but there is an understanding that discussions regarding his future will take place only after the World Cup.

Martinez took over the leadership of the Portugal national team in January 2023, following his tenure with Belgium, who faced elimination in the group stage at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.