He led Portugal to the first two titles in its history: the Euro in 2016 and the League of Nations in 2019. But the defeat in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against Morocco (0-1) was fatal to Fernando Santos in office for 8 years and who led 109 games (68 wins, 21 draws and 20 losses). The 68-year-old coach’s contract, which ran until 2024, was terminated on Thursday. The Portuguese Federation announced in a press release that it had reached an amicable agreement.
“The Portuguese Football Federation and Fernando Santos have agreed to end the very successful journey that began in September 2014. After one of the best participations ever by the national team in the final stages of the World Cup, in Qatar , the FPF and Fernando Santos understand that now is the right time to start a new cycle. It was an honor to have been able to count on a coach and a person like Fernando Santos at the head of the national team, The FPF Board of Directors will now begin the process of selecting the next national coach,” writes in particular the FPF.
Mourinho as successor?
To succeed him, several experienced Portuguese coaches such as Jorge Jesus, Rui Vitoria, Abel Ferreira, Leonardo Jardim, Paulo Fonseca or Rui Jorge are among the possible candidates. But it is José Mourinho, currently AS Roma, who is the favorite.