Martinez: Claims I will leave Portugal after World Cup ‘not news’
· Yahoo Sports
Roberto Martinez says reports that he will leave his role as Portugal head coach after the World Cup are “not news”.
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A statement on Tuesday said Martinez and Portugal are “aligned” on being fully focused on the tournament in North America, amid reports the Spaniard will leave his post regardless of what happens at the finals.
Reports have linked the 52-year-old former Everton and Wigan boss with a return to the Premier League or another national team role.
Responding to the speculation, a spokesperson for the Portuguese federation (FPF) told the Press Association: “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.”
Martinez faced questions over his future at a press conference in Houston later on Tuesday to preview Portugal’s opening match against DR Congo.
“It’s not news,” he said in quotes reported by Portuguese newspaper 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.
“The focus is on continuing the work done for three-and-a-half years.
“When I arrived in Portugal, the focus was… trying to win everything every day, but the focus was on preparing for the World Cup. We’re already here, 40 games later, after winning the Nations League.
“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 is out of contract at the end of the tournament, but it is understood there is agreement between him and his employers that discussions around his future must wait until after the finals.
Martinez took on the Portugal job in January 2023. He had previously been the head coach of Belgium, who were knocked out at the group stage in the last World Cup finals in Qatar in 2022.