The 71-year-old Portuguese manager has signed a four-season contract with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), running through the 2030 World Cup, according to the Lusa news agency.

The announcement ends the brief uncertainty that followed the national team's performance at the 2026 World Cup.

This appointment confirms the scenario that had been taking shape behind the scenes at the Cidade do Futebol; the initial outlines of the deal and the leadership's strong preference for the Portuguese manager's profile had already been detailed in a previous analysis. The transition plan began to take shape immediately after the FPF confirmed Roberto Martínez's departure, following the 1–0 Round of 16 loss to Spain, a decision reached by mutual agreement regardless of the tournament's sporting outcome, as reported by The Portugal News.

Official presentation

Jorge Jesus's official presentation is scheduled for the afternoon of 10 July. A free agent since May, after leading Al-Nassr to the Saudi league title with a squad that included Portuguese internationals Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix, the Amadora native is taking on his first challenge in international football after a coaching career spanning nearly four decades and 16 different clubs.

Jorge Jesus's senior coaching career began in the 1989/90 season with Amora in the Third Division. He went on to manage several clubs before establishing himself at the pinnacle of elite football. It was at Benfica that the coach experienced his longest and most successful spell in Portuguese football in terms of silverware.

Jorge Jesus achievements

Across two stints at the Estádio da Luz (between 2009 and 2015, and later between 2020 and 2021), Jesus spent nine and a half seasons at the club and won 10 official trophies, most notably three league titles, one Portuguese Cup, one Super Cup, and five League Cups. Upon moving to rivals Sporting, where he stayed from 2015 to 2018, he added to his domestic trophy haul by winning another Super Cup and a League Cup.

Internationally, the coach’s impact was equally significant, particularly during his stint in Brazil, where he led Flamengo between 2019 and 2020. Over roughly a year and a half, Jesus orchestrated a genuine tactical revolution in South American football, winning the Brasileirão, the Brazilian Super Cup, the South American Super Cup, and the prestigious Copa Libertadores in quick succession.

Under his leadership, the Rio de Janeiro club broke historic league points records and reached the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final, where they went toe-to-toe with Liverpool, ultimately losing 1–0 in extra time.

His time abroad also included a spell in Turkey during the 2022/23 season, where he won the national cup with Fenerbahçe, and two stints in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal; during the first of these, he achieved a domestic clean sweep by winning the League, the Saudi Cup, and the local Super Cup.

Demanding schedule

The new national team manager now faces a demanding schedule and structural goals clearly defined by the FPF. Jorge Jesus’s debut on the Portugal bench is set for 24 September, when the team begins its Nations League title defence against Wales at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.

This match is part of Group A1, which also includes Denmark and Norway, with fixtures running until 17 November to determine the top two teams advancing to the competition's quarter-finals.

Looking at the long term, the strategic plan outlined for the coach focuses on qualifying for the 2028 European Championship, to be held in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The qualifying phase for the European Championship will take place between March and November 2027, with the official draw for the qualifying groups already scheduled for 6 December of this year.

Also on Jesus's horizon will be the preparation and execution of the 2030 World Cup, the historic edition of FIFA's flagship tournament that Portugal will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco, marking the culmination of the four-year contract just signed.