Eight years later, a Eurocup and a League of Nations later, Fernando Santos’ chapter in the National Team has come to an end. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed this Thursday, less than a week after the elimination of the World Cup in Qatar, that the coach will leave the position he has held since 2014. And Fernando Santos has already said goodbye.
In a brief message recorded on video, the national coach assures that he is leaving “with an enormous feeling of gratitude”. “Huge for the privilege I had to be a national coach and for the honor I had to represent our country. It was a dream that I fulfilled, a life goal that I fulfilled. I want to thank, first of all, all the players I have worked with since 2014. Everyone, without exception. When you lead groups, you have to make some tough decisions. It is normal that not everyone is happy with the choices I made, but the choices I made were always thinking about what would be best for our team, ”Fernando Santos begins by saying, before extending his thanks to the Portuguese Football Federation.
“I would also like to thank my fellow coaches, that is, from the clubs that contributed players to the national team, with whom I have always had an excellent, open and loyal relationship. I thank my technical team, for everything and for all the commitment during these years. I want to thank the Portuguese Football Federation, through Humberto Coelho and João Pinto, who have always been by my side, and all staff who has worked very closely with me over the years. But also to all those who came across me in the Federation. They will remain forever in my heart”, adds the coach.
Later, Fernando Santos dedicated several words to Fernando Gomes, president of the Portuguese Football Federation with whom he agreed to leave last Tuesday. “I want to give particular and special thanks to Dr. Fernando Gomes, who always supported me and was what a leader should be in good times but, above all, also in the most difficult ones”, adds the coach, ending with “a word in Portuguese”.
There was no going back: Fernando Santos leaves the national team eight years later, Mourinho approached, his successor only in 2023
“From now on, I will be one of the many millions who encourage and support the team. I will be in body and soul as always. No longer on the pitch, but in the stands, wherever, singing our anthem and looking forward to the National Team, everyone’s team, giving us great joy”, concludes Fernando Santos.
Source: Observadora
