Jorge Jesus named Portugal head coach through 2030 World Cup
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- Jorge Jesus was named Portugal head coach on a four-year contract extending through the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host with Spain and Morocco.
- Portugal exited this summer's tournament with a 1-0 last-16 loss to Spain, after which predecessor Roberto Martinez — in the role since January 2023 — announced his departure.
- Jesus managed Cristiano Ronaldo during a one-year stint as Al Nassr head coach, winning the Saudi Pro League title together last season, and called the 41-year-old a 'symbol of Portuguese football' on Friday.
- Ronaldo confirmed this summer's tournament was his sixth and final World Cup but has made no official statement on fully retiring from international football, while Jesus said he would select him 'as long as he's playing and is in a condition to be selected.'
- Jesus's first match is Portugal's Nations League Group D opener against Wales on 24 September, with Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract running until 2027.
- Jesus brings a decorated resume, having won a domestic treble with Al Hilal in 2023-24, three league titles across his Benfica stints in 2010, 2014 and 2015, and five major trophies including the Brazilian title and Copa Libertadores with Flamengo in 2019.
Why it matters: Jesus inherits a squad led by a 41-year Ronaldo whose Al Nassr deal runs to 2027, meaning the new coach must manage the captain's farewell arc while building toward a home World Cup in 2030. Jesus's prior successful working relationship with Ronaldo at Al Nassr gives him unusual standing to dictate those terms, as his public framing — 'certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best' — signals he intends to control the narrative rather than accommodate it.
