Fernando Santos: Portugal coach leaves role after World Cup 2022 exit

Fernando Santos has stepped down as Portugal coach following the group’s quarter-final exit on the Qatar World Cup.

Portugal have been overwhelmed by underdogs Morocco within the final eight to increase their watch for a primary world title for not less than one other 4 years.

Santos took on the role of Portugal coach in 2014 and guided his nation to their first main trophy with a triumph at Euro 2016. Portugal have been then title winners through the inaugural version of the Nations League in 2019.

Santos, 68, made the daring name to drop captain Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench this month in Portugal’s last-16 win over Switzerland and subsequent loss to Morocco.

Against Switzerland, 37-year-old Ronaldo’s alternative Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout. However, Ramos, 21, couldn’t replicate that success in opposition to Morocco, nor may any Portuguese participant discover the online as they fell to a shock 1-0 loss.

Santos later mentioned he didn’t remorse the choice to bench Ronaldo within the defeat by Morocco, who went on to lose to defending champions France within the semi-finals.

“The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and Fernando Santos have agreed to end the highly successful journey that began in September 2014,” learn an official assertion from the FPF on Thursday (15 December).

“After one of the best performances ever by the National Team in the final stages of the World Championship, in Qatar, FPF and Fernando Santos understand that this is the right moment to start a new cycle.

“In addition to the titles won, Fernando Santos became the coach with the most games and most victories [in the team’s history]. It was an honour to have a coach and a person like Fernando Santos at the head of the National Team. The FPF thanks Fernando Santos and his technical team for the services provided over eight unique years and believes that this thanks is also made on behalf of the Portuguese people.

“The FPF Board will now begin the process of choosing the next national coach.”

Prior to changing into Portugal coach after the 2014 World Cup, Santos had spells as supervisor of the Greek nationwide group and Portuguese golf equipment Sporting CP, Benfica and Porto.

Santos’ Portugal received Euro 2016 in France, beating the hosts within the last, after profitable only one match in regular time.

Portugal completed third of their group with three attracts however superior to the knockout phases as top-of-the-line third-placed groups, on the first version of the event to contain 24 nations. They then beat Croatia in further time, Poland on penalties, Wales in regular time, and France 1-0 in further time.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Portugal exited within the final 16 with a 2-1 defeat by Uruguay. One 12 months later, Portugal have been Nations League champions on house turf in Porto, defeating Netherlands 1-0.

Santos’ Portugal exit follows that of Brazil coach Tite and Belgium supervisor Roberto Martinez this week. Brazil, event favourites in Qatar, have been eradicated within the quarter-finals, dropping a penalty shootout to Croatia. Meanwhile, Belgium have been knocked out within the group stage.