New Coach Jorge Jesus Affirms Cristiano Ronaldo’s Role in Portugal
Jorge Jesus, the newly appointed coach of the Portugal national football team, expressed on Friday that there is still an opportunity for star player Cristiano Ronaldo to contribute to the team moving forward.
Despite Portugal’s disappointing exit from the World Cup, where they failed to reach the last 16 despite Ronaldo scoring three goals, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has left the door open for a potential return to the national squad. Following Portugal’s defeat to Spain, the 41-year-old announced his retirement from World Cup participation.
Jesus, who signed a four-year contract with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) on Friday—extending until the 2030 World Cup—welcomes the idea of Ronaldo rejoining the team. “I haven’t spoken with Chris yet. He will never be a problem for the national team or for me,” Jesus stated, emphasizing that individual opinions on controversy are natural.
“When the time comes to make a decision, I will consult Chris and the other players individually. Chris is a symbol of Portugal and will go down in history. Working with him is an immense pleasure,” Jesus remarked, noting Ronaldo’s commitment to finishing his career with Al Nasr. He added that if Ronaldo is in a suitable position to be called up, he will certainly consider it.
The unveiling of Jorge Jesus, who is 71 years old, took place at the FPF headquarters in Lisbon on Friday afternoon. Jesus conveyed his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead, stating, “I may be 71, but I feel like I’m 50. I stay active, training for an hour to two hours each day. While it will be a demanding role, I am confident we will achieve success.”
Reflecting on his experience with Ronaldo, Jesus mentioned, “He participated in 31 of the 50 games last year, and I substituted him 16 times without issues. Twelve of the players named for the World Cup have previously worked with me, giving me an advantage moving forward.”
Jorge Jesus replaces Roberto Martínez, who concluded his contract after Portugal’s early World Cup exit. Having previously led Al Nasr to a Saudi Professional League title before returning to the national scene, Jesus aims to make a significant impact in his first experience coaching a national team in his 36-year career.
In addition to his experience with Ronaldo, Jesus also coached Portuguese luminary Joao Félix at Al Nasr and has extensive knowledge of Portuguese football, having managed eleven local clubs, including Benfica, where he secured ten trophies. His international success includes a stellar period with Flamengo, where he guided the team to five major titles between June 2019 and July 2020. During the 2023-24 season, he led Al Hilal to a domestic triple crown.
In a swift recovery from their World Cup disappointment, Portugal is eager to rebound. Their first match under Jesus’s guidance is set for September 24th in the Nations League, where they will face Wales. Jesus, who has coached legendary talents including Ronaldo and Neymar, expressed pride in leading such a prominent national team, saying, “I am thrilled to coach one of the best teams in the world and represent my own nation. I feel a responsibility to the 11 million people of Portugal.”
