Roberto Martínez exits through the small door once again, leaving Portugal out of the World Cup in the round of 16 and wasting what would have been Cristiano Ronaldo's last great opportunity to win the most coveted trophy in world football. After years of promising glory with the best generations of Belgium and Portugal, the Spanish coach now finds himself directionless once more, but at just 52 years old, will he ruin another “golden generation”?
During six seasons at the helm of Belgium, Martínez had players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku at the peak of their careers. However, the Belgians fell short of expectations: they only reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, were eliminated in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, and in the 2022 World Cup, they were knocked out in the group stage. In 2023, Martínez took over as head coach of Portugal and, despite success in the 2024-25 Nations League, he once again failed in the competitions that truly matter.
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The early exit of Portugal from the World Cup also sealed the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of lifting the trophy, with Roberto Martínez announcing his departure from the position immediately after the elimination. Now, what does the future hold for the Catalan coach? The question arises: which other talented generation may see its potential wasted under Martínez's leadership?
One of the most talked-about possibilities is Morocco, which has been achieving the best performances in its recent history: semi-finals in 2022 and now a place in the quarter-finals. With stars like Achraf Hakimi (27), Brahim Diaz (26), and young prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi (18), Morocco promises to remain at the top of African football. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi took over only this year, but a departure could jeopardize the hard work done.
Another potential victim is Norway, which has returned to the World Cup after a long absence and has already surprised by eliminating Ivory Coast and Brazil, now facing England. Led by Erling Haaland, one of the best forwards in the world, and with young talents like Antonio Nusa and Andreas Schjelderup, Norway wants to prove that it is not just a flash in the pan. If Stale Solbakken steps down, Martínez could be called in to “spoil the party.”
In South America, Ecuador is looking for a new coach after Sebastián Beccacece's departure following an elimination in the top 32 against host Mexico. With players like Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho, and Piero Hincapie, all 24 years old, the new Ecuadorian generation is seeking affirmation, and Martínez, being Spanish-speaking, would not be out of the question.
Canada is also experiencing its best moment ever, reaching the World Cup round of 16 for the first time. Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are the standout names of the Canadian team, which will continue under the leadership of Jesse Marsch until 2030, but should a vacancy arise, Martínez's international profile could be tempting.
Colombia, for its part, may be on the verge of changing coaches, with Nestor Lorenzo's contract nearing its end. Despite the experience of some names like David Ospina and James Rodríguez, there is still enough quality for another significant campaign, with figures such as Luis Diaz (29), Richard Rios (26), and Luis Suarez (28). Given that Martínez is fluent in Spanish, he would be a logical option, although perhaps not the most sensible.
Finally, Turkey presents the most glaring case: a young and talented generation, led by Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, but which failed spectacularly by being eliminated in the group stage. The end of Vicenzo Montella's cycle seems inevitable, and in a country known for its million-dollar contracts to foreign coaches, Roberto Martínez may well be the next to take a seat on the bench… and transform hope into disappointment.
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