Jorge Jesus Takes Charge of Portugal National Team
Portugal have turned to one of their most seasoned tacticians for the next World Cup cycle, handing Jorge Jesus a four-year contract that runs to the 2030 tournament the country will co-host with Spain and Morocco.
The 71-year-old takes over from Roberto Martinez, who had already confirmed he would step down after Portugal’s disappointing exit in the last 16 of this summer’s World Cup, a 1-0 defeat to Spain. The change marks a decisive shift: from a foreign coach brought in to refine a golden generation, to a veteran Portuguese manager steeped in the domestic game and unafraid of big personalities.
A familiar star at the centre of the project
At the heart of it all, inevitably, stands Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jesus knows him well. The pair worked together at Al Nassr last season, where they delivered the Saudi Pro League title. That shared success now forms the backdrop to one of the biggest questions facing the new coach: how long can Ronaldo remain central to Portugal?
The 41-year-old captain has already said this World Cup will be his sixth and last, a staggering run at the highest level. He has not, however, formally announced his retirement from international football, and Jesus made it clear he is not about to usher him towards the exit.
Ronaldo, whose Al Nassr contract runs until 2027, is, in Jesus’ words, a “symbol of Portuguese football”. The message from the new boss is blunt: as long as Ronaldo is playing, fit, and meets the demands of the team, he will be considered.
“As long as he's playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team,” Jesus said on Friday, underlining that the final call will always be his. He stressed he has not yet spoken to Ronaldo since taking the job, but brushed aside any notion of tension or difficulty, insisting the forward “is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me.”
For Jesus, working with Ronaldo again is not a burden. It is a pleasure. “I had great pleasure working with him this past year, [it's] easy to work with him,” he added, pointing back to a partnership that already delivered silverware.
A coach built on trophies and strong dressing rooms
Portugal have not turned to a novice. Jesus arrives with a career defined by titles and by his ability to impose structure on star-studded squads.
He comes into the job fresh from a domestic treble with Al Hilal in the 2023-24 season, another reminder of his knack for winning quickly in demanding environments. Before that, he carved out a formidable legacy at Benfica, where he lifted three league titles in his first spell in charge, in 2010, 2014 and 2015, and repeatedly kept the club at the sharp end of European competition.
His impact travelled far beyond Portugal. During a whirlwind year with Flamengo, he conquered Brazil, winning five major trophies in 2019, including the Brazilian title and the Copa Libertadores. That run, in one of the most intense football cultures in the world, hardened his reputation as a coach who thrives under pressure and knows how to manage egos, expectation and chaos.
Now he steps into a national team dressing room that blends veterans like Ronaldo with a wave of elite talent across Europe. The task is clear: turn that depth into a coherent side ready to peak on home soil in 2030.
Nations League first, World Cup on the horizon
Jesus will not have long to wait for his first test. His debut in the dugout comes on 24 September, when Portugal open their Nations League Group D campaign against Wales. It is a competition that will offer early clues: how he balances experience and youth, how quickly his ideas take hold, and whether Ronaldo remains as central on the pitch as he is off it.
Beyond that lies the larger stage. In four years, Portugal will walk out as co-hosts of a World Cup for the first time, sharing the tournament with Spain and Morocco. The federation has now nailed its colours to Jesus’ mast for that journey.
A proven winner, a national icon still hungry, a World Cup at home on the horizon. The pieces are on the board. How bold will Jesus be in moving them?
