Fernando Santos

Fernando Santos has left his job as Portugal coach after his team lost to Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) ...

"It was an honour to have a coach and a person like Fernando Santos as the head of the national team." Santos, who has been widely criticised for his tactics, became Portugal coach in 2014 and led the country in 109 matches. "It's normal that not everyone was happy with the choices I made but the decisions I took were always thinking about what would be best for our team."

Fernando Santos took the bold decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo following the group stage of the World Cup but his side went out to Morocco in the ...

A statement from the Portuguese Football Federation read: "It was an honour to have a coach and a person like Fernando Santos at the head of the national team. Fernando Santos took the bold decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo following the group stage of the World Cup but his side went out to Morocco in the quarter-finals; Roma boss Jose Mourinho one of the early favourites to replace Santos Portugal will now begin the process of appointing a new head coach, with Roma boss Jose Mourinho one of the early favourites for the post.

Santos had been contracted until after Euro 2024, but the Portuguese Football Federation said now was the “right moment to start a new cycle”. The 68-year-old ...

Ronaldo again started on the bench for the quarter-final, with Morocco going on to secure a memorable [ 1-0 victory](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/10/morocco-portugal-world-cup-quarter-final-match-report) with a first-half header from Youssef En-Nesyri. [dropped Cristiano Ronaldo ](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/05/portugal-coach-santos-unimpressed-with-ronaldos-reaction-to-substitution-world-cup)from the starting line-up. Portugal will now begin the process of appointing a new head coach, with the Roma manager, José Mourinho, one of the early favourites for the post.

It was the worst-kept secret in Portuguese football. Fernando Santos is no longer head coach of the Seleção. Ever since Portugal were knocked out of World Cup ...

Santos went on to thank all the players, FPF staff and Portugal fans. Later in the evening, the FPF also carried a message recorded by Fernando Santos himself. Thank you for serving Portuguese football and Portugal in a brilliant way.

Portugal sack Fernando Santos as national team coach following the nation's quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup.

[recent report](/football/portugal/world-cup-2022/news/portugal-preparing-to-sack-fernando-santos_501984.html) indicated that Portugal were preparing to sack Santos, and it has now been confirmed that he has been relieved of his duties. [discuss his future](/football/portugal/world-cup-2022/news/fernando-santos-comments-on-future-as-portugal-boss_501702.html) when he returned to Lisbon. [Portugal](/football/portugal/) have relieved [Fernando Santos](/people/fernando-santos/) of his duties as head coach following the nation's quarter-final exit at the 2022 [World Cup](/football/world-cup/).

Fernando Santos has officially been sacked as Portugal coach after he failed to lead his country past the the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Getty Images Santos benched Ronaldo mid-way through the tournament but the switch did not spark attacking success against the Atlas Lions. After eight years in charge and victory at Euro 2016, the 68-year-old has now left the job.

Bruno has posted a message of gratitude to Fernando Santos after he stepped down as Portugal manager.

However, they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage after suffering a shock defeat to surprise package Morocco. “Many thanks to mister Fernando Santos,” writes Bruno. It was announced on Thursday that Santos had stepped down from his role after eight years in charge of the national team.

Portugal are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Fernando Santos following their World Cup exit. Jose Mourinho, Paulo Fonseca and Andre Villas-Boas ...

[Cristiano Ronaldo and other Portugal players failed to thank Santos for his service](/sport/football/article-11545451/Cristiano-Ronaldo-leads-group-NINE-Portugal-stars-silent-Fernando-Santos-axed.html), with change very much needed for the side. [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/portugal-jose-mourinho-roma-worldcup-28728088) reported that former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has previously expressed his desire to take on the job in the past. as the running for Portugal's next manager hots up [is the key to extending his international career](/sport/football/article-11533181/ALVISE-CAGNAZZO-Cristiano-Ronaldo-believes-Jose-Mourinho-key-extending-Portugal-career.html), after he was left on the bench towards the end of the World Cup. [ESPN](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/portugal-por/story/4832579/portugal-coach-fernando-santos-leaves-job-following-2022-world-cup-exit) report that Fonseca and Jorge are both contenders for the job. [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/portugal-jose-mourinho-roma-worldcup-28728088) report that the Roma manager has interest in becoming an international manager though is not sure the job is right for him. [the Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/17287538/chelsea-andre-villas-boas-2026-world-cup-quitting/) earlier this year that he wants an international job before the 2026 World Cup before he would then consider an early retirement from manager. [swamped with questions on his future ](/sport/football/article-11543311/Romas-Jose-Mourinho-refuses-comment-amid-links-replacing-Fernando-Santos-Portugal-boss.html)by journalists following the news of Santos' departure. [Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fifa-world-cup/index.html) [Jose Mourinho](/sport/jose_mourinho/index.html) and [Paulo Fonseca](/sport/paulo-fonseca/index.html) are strong contenders to replace Fernando Santos, while Andre Villas-Boas has also previously expressed his desire to take the Portugal job. [after sacking Santos following their World Cup exit](/sport/football/article-11542851/Portugal-SACK-Fernando-Santos-bitter-World-Cup-quarter-final-exit-Morocco.html). [Ronaldo leads a group of nine Portugal stars not to have thanked axed Santos](/sport/football/article-11545451/Cristiano-Ronaldo-leads-group-NINE-Portugal-stars-silent-Fernando-Santos-axed.html) [Portugal have axed Fernando Santos after a disappointing World Cup campaign](/sport/football/article-11542851/Portugal-SACK-Fernando-Santos-bitter-World-Cup-quarter-final-exit-Morocco.html)