Portugal appoint Roberto Martinez as their new coach after sacking Fernando Santos

Portugal appoint Roberto Martinez as their new coach after sacking Fernando Santos

Portugal announced Roberto Martinez, a former boss of Belgium, has been appointed as the national team coach after the dismissal of Fernando Santos.

After Portugal’s disappointing World Cup campaign, Santos was fired. They were defeated 1-0 by Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Martinez had a World Cup to remember with Belgium, who failed to make it past the group stage.

The former Everton boss Will be looking forward to a new start with Portugal.

“I am delighted to be able to represent one of the most talented teams in the world,” Martínez said. “I understand there are great expectations … but I also understand there is a very large team [at the federation] … and together we will achieve our goals.”

Questioned about the future of Ronaldo in the national team, Martínez said that he would contact the 37-year-old, who last month joined the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

“I want to contact all 26 players who were at the last World Cup … Cristiano is a player on that list,” he said, adding that he would “sit down and talk” with the forward, who is his country’s record scorer with 118 goals. Ronaldo was left out of the starting XI by Santos for the final two World Cup matches.

The Portugal football federation’s president, Fernando Gomes, told a news conference as Martínez stood next to him: “I appreciate the enthusiasm and ambition with which he received the invitation. This is an important moment for the national team.”