Portugal have parted approaches with mentor Fernando Santos next the team’s 2022 Environment Cup quarterfinal exit to Morocco, the Portuguese federation (FPF) announced Thursday.
Santos, 68, took cost in 2014 and guided Portugal to their initially-at any time senior international title when beating France in the ultimate of Euro 2016. The former Greece countrywide crew manager also led the Seleccao to the 2019 UEFA Nations League title.
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Nevertheless, his tenure finished in disappointment in Qatar with a shock 1- loss to Morocco. He had a agreement that ran via Euro 2024.
“The Portuguese Football Federation and Fernando Santos agreed to conclude the highly successful journey that commenced in September 2014,” go through a assertion from the FPF.
“Just after 1 of the very best participations at any time by the Countrywide Staff in the remaining levels of the Environment Cup, in Qatar, FPF and Fernando Santos understand that this is the correct time to start off a new cycle.
“The FPF Board will now get started the system of picking out the subsequent nationwide mentor.”
Um ?????? histórico. ?? Obrigado por tudo, Mister. ?? #VesteABandeira
A historic ??????. ?? Thank you for all the things, Mentor. ?? #WearTheFlag pic.twitter.com/7emUN6LbZB
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) December 15, 2022
In an emotional video clip information, Santos mentioned that getting Portugal’s coach was a “desire appear accurate” and a “lifetime target” he fulfilled.
“When you guide groups, you have to make some hard decisions,” he included. “It is really usual that not absolutely everyone was delighted with the options I produced but the choices I took had been usually thinking about what would be finest for our crew.”
Controversy also surrounded the Portugal group in Qatar, with Santos determining to fall star gentleman Cristiano Ronaldo for the team’s round of 16 activity versus Switzerland.
Santos’ conclusion, which came following Ronaldo exhibiting obvious stress at getting substituted in the earlier video game against South Korea, was vindicated when substitution Goncalo Ramos scored a hat trick in a 6-1 gain.
Santos yet again began with Ronaldo on the bench towards Morocco in advance of bringing him on early in the next 50 % as Portugal unexpectedly crashed out. Afterward Santos insisted he experienced no regrets about his determination.
“I will not imagine so, no regrets,” Santos reported. “I assume this was a workforce which played very very well against Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo is a wonderful player, he came in when we considered it was vital, so no regrets.
“If we consider two persons that have been the most upset it is Cristiano Ronaldo and myself. Of training course we are upset, but that is portion of the occupation of the mentor and the player.”
Talking about his have foreseeable future at the time, Santos claimed: “I reiterate what I said just before the competitors, I have a dialogue with the president and when we go again to Portugal we will deal with the situation of my contract.”
Numerous Portuguese media retailers have described that names this sort of as AS Roma supervisor Jose Mourinho, the nationwide underneath-21 coach Rui Jorge and Lille manager Paulo Fonseca had been staying thought of as possible replacements.
Mourinho arrived earlier on Thursday in Portugal’s southern area, the place AS Roma will enjoy 3 friendlies, but remained silent when questioned by reporters about Santos’ succession.
Information and facts from Reuters was employed in this report.
