New Portugal coach Martinez pledges to talk to Ronaldo
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez was employed to steer Portugal’s nationwide staff on Monday and pledged to respect Cristiano Ronaldo’s historical past with the squad.
The Spaniard replaces Fernando Santos, who stop in December after Portugal’s elimination in opposition to Morocco within the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Santos left amid the controversy of benching Ronaldo within the knockout stage of the match in Qatar.
“I want to talk to everyone. The list of 26 players from the last World Cup will be my starting point, and Cristiano was part of that list,” Martinez stated. “He has been with the national team for 19 years and deserves the respect of us sitting down and talking. We want to get to know all players, and Cristiano is one of them.”
Martinez ended his six-year stint with Belgium after the staff’s disappointing group-stage elimination on the World Cup, when he once more failed to steer the nation’s golden era to a triumph.
He arrives to a Portugal staff full of proficient gamers like Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Jo?o Felix, but additionally amid doubts over the way forward for the 37-year-old Ronaldo, who’s now enjoying in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s my job to try to give all players an opportunity, and to respect the ones who are already with the national team, including Cristiano Ronaldo,” Martinez stated. “It’s a process that will have to occur naturally. We have a lot of work and a lot of responsibility, and we will have to make some important decisions for the national team.”
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Martinez stated there are 54 Portuguese gamers within the prime 5 European leagues who’re 28 or youthful and who shall be checked out carefully.
“Portuguese players always adapt well in the top leagues and give their clubs great competitiveness,” Martinez stated. “I’m excited about the winning mentality of the Portuguese players. The goal is to keep dreaming big.”
The 49-year-old Martinez coached Belgium to a third-place end on the 2018 World Cup and to the quarterfinals of the 2020 European Championship. The Belgians have been ranked No. 1 by FIFA for 4 years throughout Martinez’s tenure however by no means received a serious match regardless of having proficient gamers like Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, the nation’s all-time main scorer.
Martinez had stated he made the choice to depart Belgium earlier than the World Cup in Qatar. He was additionally the nationwide staff’s technical director since 2020.
Martinez performed and coached in England earlier than he was employed by Belgium in 2016. His most spectacular achievement in membership administration was profitable the FA Cup with Wigan in 2013. The membership was finally relegated from the Premier League that very same season, with Martinez then appointed by Everton, the place he lasted three years earlier than being fired.
The 68-year-old Santos left after eight years accountable for Portugal, having led the nationwide staff to titles within the 2016 European Championship _ the nation’s first main trophy _ and the 2019 Nations League. He reached an settlement with the federation to depart two years earlier than his contract was to finish.
“It’s always easier to replace a great coach,” Martinez stated. “We can try to continue the great things that Santos had been doing.”
