Roberto Martínez calls coaching Portugal “a challenge” and praises Portuguese football

Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez admitted on Monday that managing the Portugal national team is “a challenge and a major responsibility,” while also describing life in the country as “a divine gift.”

Martínez made the remarks during a talk organized by the Instituto Cervantes in Lisbon, where he appeared alongside other Spanish figures living in Portugal to reflect on the similarities and differences between Spain and Portugal.

After three years in charge of Portugal, the Spanish coach spoke openly about his professional and personal adaptation, highlighting the quality of the Portuguese coach, whom he described as “one of the best in the world” in terms of methodology and competitiveness.

“That’s why it was an incredible honor for the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) to trust a foreign coach,” Martínez said, noting that before him there had only been two non-Portuguese managers—both of whom spoke the language.

He also shared how he managed to learn Portuguese so well: a good teacher, consistency, listening to the radio, and watching television programs. Still, he admitted there is room for improvement. “Like everything else, language requires practice. I’ve got 150 days left until the World Cup,” he joked, while thanking Portuguese fans for embracing his effort and intention to learn.

From a footballing perspective, Martínez said he enjoys identifying the Iberian similarities between Spanish and Portuguese football, but added that what impresses him most about Portugal is its belief in long-term processes, something he considers difficult in what is often a more emotional environment. He also noted Portugal’s strong tendency to look toward European football.

He went on to describe Portugal as a pioneer in talent development and “a model for Europe” for three main reasons: its competitive environment, the country’s adventurous and exploratory historical culture, and the influence of the Portuguese coaching school.

Martínez now faces one of the biggest challenges of his career at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, where he will lead Portugal with the aim of making a deep run after strong showings in the knockout stages.

The coach, born in Balaguer, Spain, has previous World Cup experience, having led Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the best result in the nation’s history.

Portugal’s next fixture is scheduled for March 28, when they will face Mexico in a friendly match marking the reopening of the Estadio Azteca, one of the venues for the upcoming World Cup.