Martinez appointed Portugal coach, will contact Ronaldo

Portugal named former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez as their new supervisor on Monday and the Spaniard stated he would sit down with Cristiano Ronaldo to speak about his future within the workforce.

Martinez, 49, replaces Fernando Santos, who left his job after Portugal suffered a shock defeat by Morocco within the World Cup quarter-finals.

“I appreciate the enthusiasm and ambition with which he (Martinez) received the invitation,” Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) President Fernando Gomes informed a information convention as Martinez stood subsequent to him.

“This is an important moment for the national team,” he stated.

Um novo 𝗟𝗶́𝗱𝗲𝗿 ao serviço de Portugal 🇵🇹: bem-vindo, Mister Roberto Martínez! 🤝 #VesteABandeira

A brand new 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 at 🇵🇹 service: welcome, Coach Roberto Martínez! 🤝 #Put onTheFlag pic.twitter.com/TCDe3yzJr9

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) January 9, 2023

Martinez stepped down as Belgium coach following their World Cup group stage exit, saying he had made the choice to finish his six-year tenure a while in the past and would have left even when that they had been topped champions.

It ended a protracted spell answerable for the facet during which he took them to primary on the planet rankings and third place on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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

The 68-year-old Santos, who was broadly criticised for his ways and for leaving ahead Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for 2 consecutive World Cup video games, grew to become Portugal coach in 2014 and led the nation in 109 matches.

They gained the European Championship in 2016 and UEFA’s inaugural Nations League in 2018-19.

Questioned about the way forward for Ronaldo within the nationwide workforce, Martinez stated that he would contact the 37-year-old, who final month joined Saudi Arabian membership Al Nassr on a 2-1/2 12 months deal.

“I want to contact all 26 players who were at the last World Cup … Cristiano is a player on that list,” he stated, including he would “sit down and talk” with the ahead, who’s his nation’s all-time report scorer with 118 targets.