José Mourinho has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge of the Portugal national team once Roberto Martínez’s contract runs out after the 2026 World Cup.
Martínez was appointed in January 2023 and signed a deal that runs through the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He remains in charge for the tournament, but his agreement does not extend beyond it, leaving the federation free to line up a successor well in advance.
The former Belgium coach has overseen Portugal through qualification and into the latter stages of Euro 2024, while managing a squad that mixes experienced players like Cristiano Ronaldo with younger ones pushing for game time.
ESPN, however, reports that Mourinho, who has never hidden his desire for the position, is expected to be offered the Portugal job when Roberto Martínez’s contract expires.
The former Real Madrid manager is currently back in domestic football with Benfica, having returned to the Lisbon club in September 2025, more than two decades after a brief spell there.
His contract at the Estadio da Luz runs until 2027, but includes a clause that allows a break at the end of the 2025-26 season.
As revealed by Footmercato, the agreement includes a strategic clause that allows either Mourinho or Benfica to terminate the deal 10 days after the season’s final match.
Before returning home, Mourinho had a short stay in Turkey with Fenerbahçe, where he left in August 2025 after losing the Champions League playoffs.
That exit followed spells at Roma and other top European sides, leaving the national team role as the one senior job still missing from his résumé.
