The Portuguese Football Association announced, on Thursday, the departure of Fernando Santos as coach of the national team, following losing to Morocco in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup.
The European country’s national team suffered a surprising 1-0 loss once morest Morocco, last Saturday, in a match in which the coach excluded Portugal’s historic top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, from the starting line-up.
In an emotional video message, Santos said coaching Portugal was a “dream come true” and “an important goal in his life”.
“When you lead a group of players you have to make some difficult decisions.
“It is normal that not everyone is happy with the choices I made, but I have always focused on the interest of the national team.”
“After one of the best-ever participations of the national team in the advanced stages of the World Cup … the Portuguese Football Federation and Fernando Santos have concluded that this is the right moment to start a new cycle,” the Portuguese federation said in a statement.
Santos, whose plans drew criticism in Portugal and abroad, took charge in 2014 and led the national team to 109 matches and win the European Championship 2016. Under his leadership, Portugal won the first edition of the Nations League in 2018-2019.
“In addition to the titles won, Fernando Santos has become the coach with the most matches and the most victories,” the Portuguese federation said.
“It was a great honor to collaborate with a coach of such stature and stature as Fernando Santos.”
The Portuguese Federation added that the board of directors will now start the process of searching for a new coach.
Portuguese media put forward many names to succeed Santos, such as Jose Mourinho, coach of Rome, Roy George, coach of the Portugal under-21 team, and Paulo Fonseca, coach of Lille.
Mourinho arrived earlier today in Portugal, where Roma is scheduled to play three friendlies, but refused to comment when asked by reporters regarding the succession of Santos.
