Roberto Martinez is reportedly in advanced discussions with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to become the Netherlands’ next coach, just weeks after ending his stint with Cristiano Ronaldo’s-led Portugal. The Spanish manager, who guided A Selecao to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stepped down immediately following their Round of 16 elimination by eventual champions Spain.
According to reports from Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Martinez has emerged as a primary candidate to fill the vacancy left by Ronald Koeman. Koeman resigned following the Netherlands’ exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they were defeated 3-2 on penalties by Morocco after a 1-1 draw through extra time in the Round of 32. Martinez has reportedly held meetings with KNVB technical director and former midfielder Nigel De Jong to discuss the position. The association had previously approached Arne Slot, Peter Bosz, and Erik ten Hag, all of whom declined the opportunity.
The potential appointment of Martinez would be highly significant, as the Netherlands have not employed a foreign national team manager since 1978. Martinez has been a staple in international management since 2018, having led Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup before taking the helm of Portugal in 2023 to replace Fernando Santos.
During his time with Portugal, Martinez oversaw three major tournaments: the 2024 Euros, the 2025 UEFA Nations League, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over 45 matches, he secured 32 wins, 6 draws, and 7 defeats, maintaining a 71% win percentage. Under his leadership, Portugal notably captured the 2025 UEFA Nations League title. During this period, Cristiano Ronaldo remained a focal point, registering 28 goals and four assists in 37 appearances under the Spaniard’s guidance.
Now 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is widely expected to retire from international football in the near future. The Portuguese icon currently holds the record as the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football with 146 goals. As Martinez eyes a return to the international stage with the Dutch side, the football world watches to see if he can break the long-standing tradition of domestic coaching appointments within the KNVB hierarchy.
The Spaniard has been in national team managerial roles since 2018, managing Belgium and most recently Portugal.
Roberto was appointed head coach of Portugal in 2023, replacing Fernando Santos.
