Roberto Martínez

Roberto Martínez is the head coach of Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first Spaniard ever to lead Portugal at a World Cup. Born in Balaguer, Catalonia on 13 July 1973, he played as a midfielder for Real Zaragoza, Wigan, Motherwell and Swansea before pivoting to coaching in his early thirties.

His Premier League arc is the most quoted: League One title with Swansea, the iconic 2013 FA Cup with Wigan (the smallest club ever to win the trophy), then three middling seasons at Everton. The defining international gig was Belgium from 2016 to 2022 — third place at the 2018 World Cup, a record run as FIFA's number-one ranked side, and the final tournament of the Hazard / De Bruyne / Lukaku golden generation.

The FPF hired him in January 2023 to manage the Cristiano Ronaldo question and the generational handover. His qualifying campaign blended Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leão with new arrivals like João Neves and Vitinha. The 27-man preliminary squad released on 19 May 2026 confirmed Ronaldo will be at his sixth World Cup — a record.

Portugal are in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo, opening at NRG Stadium on 17 June. Martínez's challenge: convert one of the deepest squads at the tournament into Portugal's first World Cup title.