Portugal coach Roberto Martínez quits after World Cup heartbreak [Courtesy]
Roberto Martínez has confirmed he is stepping down as Portugal head coach following the team's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup round of 16, insisting the result should not be seen as a failure.
Confirming his exit, Martínez told ESPN, "Yes, this is my last game with the national team. I'm proud. I've had 45 games, and I felt welcomed in Portugal and loved. It's a memory I'll take with me always. It was a pleasure, a source of pride and responsibility. It's hard, but it's the end of a cycle and, in the context, it makes absolute sense."
The former Belgium, Everton, Wigan Athletic and Swansea City manager leaves behind a talented Portugal squad featuring Vitinha, João Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo. Despite the early exit, he rejected suggestions that the campaign had been unsuccessful.
"We didn't fail," Martínez said, adding, "We lost a game against one of the tournament favourites. We showed incredible individual talent. Winning or losing is about fine margins in big games between top teams. You fail when you don't try to win, and we tried to win until the last minute."
