Jorge Jesus has been appointed Portugal's new head coach on a four-year contract, taking charge of the national side through to the 2030 World Cup — a tournament Portugal are co-hosting alongside Spain and Morocco.

The 71-year-old succeeds Roberto Martinez, who announced his departure after Portugal were eliminated from this summer's World Cup in the last 16, falling to a 1-0 defeat against Spain.

A familiar face for Ronaldo

Jesus and Cristiano Ronaldo are no strangers to one another. The pair worked together at Saudi club Al Nassr, where Jesus served as head coach for a year and the two combined to win the Saudi Pro League title last season.

Speaking at his unveiling on Friday, Jesus described the 41-year-old as a "symbol of Portuguese football" and left little doubt about his intentions for the captain.

"As long as he's playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team."

Jesus also moved to quash any suggestion of friction between himself and Ronaldo, saying: "I haven't spoken with him yet. He is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me. I had great pleasure working with him this past year — easy to work with him."

Ronaldo, whose contract at Al Nassr runs until 2027, confirmed following Portugal's exit on Monday that this summer's tournament was his sixth and final World Cup, though he has stopped short of announcing a full retirement from international football.

A coach with a trophy-laden record

Jesus brings an impressive résumé to the role. During his first spell as Benfica manager, he delivered three Portuguese league titles — in 2010, 2014, and 2015. He also made a major impact in South America, guiding Flamengo to five major trophies in a single year, including the Brazilian league title and the Copa Libertadores in 2019.

More recently, he won a domestic treble with Al Hilal in the 2023-24 season before his stint at Al Nassr.

First test: Nations League in September

Jesus will not have to wait long for his competitive debut. Portugal open their UEFA Nations League campaign in Group D against Wales on 24 September.