Roberto Martinez has resigned as Portugal's head coach following a dismal three-and-a-half-year tenure which has been summed up in brutal fashion by one pundit
Roberto Martinez during a press conference
Roberto Martinez has left Portugal's national team set-up(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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Chris Sutton branded Roberto Martinez and "embarrassment" moments before the former Everton manager resigned from his post with the Portugal national team. The nation were omitted from the World Cup in the round of 16 on Monday evening in a cruel 1-0 loss to Spain.
It was a fixture in which Portugal never really managed to get going, with Mikel Merino ultimately putting them to the sword with a late, decisive strike. And in the aftermath, Martinez called time on his international coaching career with Os Navegadores.
He said: "I came to Portugal to win the World Cup, and I think that, without winning it, there’s no point in continuing. The board and the president now have the opportunity to choose the new manager...My contract ends today. There isn’t much more to say."
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He added: "I’m very proud...I’ve felt welcomed as just another Portuguese person in a very warm way. It’s been a pleasure, a source of pride, and a responsibility."
While Martinez was rather reserved in his comments, Sutton couldn't hold his tongue immediately after the match - taking to social media to lambast the 52-year-old's efforts since his appointment in 2023.
He wrote: "Roberto Martinez is an embarrassment. Gonçalo Ramos stays on the bench.
"Ronaldo does what he wants...again! Portugal were a freak show...a circus. Martinez so weak."
Mikel Merino celebrates
Mikel Merino scored the winner for Spain(Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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As a result of their win, Spain advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. There, they will take on Belgium on Friday at 8pm in Los Angeles for a place in the final four.
Martinez, meanwhile, will be potentially keen to take some time to recuperate following a disastrous tenure with Portugal in terms of major tournaments. While the Spaniard managed to guide the team to the Nations League in 2024/25, Euro 2024 will not be a tournament which lives long in his memory.
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Portugal managed to top Group F in Germany with wins over Czechia and Turkey, as well as a loss to Georgia, before ousting Slovenia from the competition in the round of 16 on penalties. They were then on the receiving end of a penalty shootout loss to France in the quarter-finals.
It comes as the second international post that Martinez has held in his managerial career, having left Everton after three years in 2016 to take up tenure with Belgium. With the Red Devils, he managed a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup.