Following Portugal’s shocking World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Morocco on Thursday, Fernando Santos resigned as coach. Jose Mourinho, a colorful and contentious coach, was named the most likely successor.
In a statement, the Portuguese football federation (FPF) said that Santos, 68, and the organization came to an agreement to “end the journey of great success that began in September 2014.” “Will now launch the process to choose the next national coach,” the FPF added. Record, a daily sports newspaper, says that the federation wants Mourinho to take over before they qualify for Euro 2024.
According to reports, they would even consider a deal in which Mourinho would serve as interim head coach of the national team, allowing him to finish out the season with club side Roma in Italy.
Mourinho did not respond when journalists asked about the job with the national team late Thursday afternoon when he arrived in southern Portugal for a training camp with Roma.
In March, qualifying for Euro 2024 begins.
Additionally, among the potential candidates mentioned by local media are Portuguese coaches Rui Jorge (under-21s), Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras), Paulo Fonseca (Lille), Rui Vitoria (Egypt), and Jorge Jesus (Fenerbahce).
Mourinho, 59, has a strong track record at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he hasn’t coached at the international level yet.
He has led Manchester United, Real Madrid, Porto, and Chelsea twice, Inter Milan, and Porto.
Mourinho led Chelsea to three Premier League titles, two Serie A titles at Inter, and a Liga title at Real.
He also led Porto to a Champions League victory in 2004 and helped Inter Milan do the same in 2010.
He led Roma to their first major European trophy, the Europa Conference League, in May of this year.
He became the first coach to win all current UEFA competitions with that fifth European title.
The duration of Mourinho’s Roma contract is 2024. The team is seventh in Serie A right now, 14 points behind Napoli, the leader.
Santos had been determined that he wouldn’t be constrained out of the Portuguese work he has held for a considerable length of time in spite of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the set of experiences making Moroccans in Qatar.
However, he acknowledged that not everyone supported his World Cup decisions, which included benching Cristiano Ronaldo in later matches.
In a video that was uploaded to the website of the federation, he stated, “I’m leaving with the feeling of enormous gratitude.”
“Leading a group necessitates making some difficult decisions. It is normal that not everyone is pleased with my decisions.
Santos was named Portugal’s coach in September 2014, and he won the nation’s first major title at Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.
But during his time in charge, the team also lost in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.