Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has announced he will step down from his position after the nation’s exit from the World Cup.
Despite being placed second in the FIFA rankings, Belgium finished third in Group F, behind Morocco and Croatia.
The Red Devils went into Thursday’s match against Croatia needing all three points to advance to the last 16, but a lot of missed opportunities resulted to a goalless draw in Al Rayyan.
Belgium has had a disastrous 2022 season by their own high standards, winning only five of 11 matches in all competitions, with one of their four defeats coming against Morocco last weekend.
Martinez has decided to step down after six and a half years in charge, with his contract expiring at the end of the tournament in Qatar.
In total, the Spaniard won 56 games and lost only 11 in 80, despite his time in charge being dominated by near misses with Belgium’s so-called golden generation.
Roberto Martínez has confirmed he is no longer Belgium manager after their World Cup exit 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/6wI0twnXjY
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 1, 2022
See Also: Belgium Eliminated From World Cup After Lacklustre Performance
Belgium reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, defeating Brazil in the last eight before losing 1-0 to eventual winners France, and then lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals before the Azzurri went on to win the title.
Their quest for silverware was extended at the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals when Belgium lost a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to France, continuing Martinez’s trend of losing to eventual winners.
“Since 2018, I had many opportunities to leave to take jobs at club level. I always wanted to be loyal and finish the job. I don’t resign – it is the end of my contract. That was always the plan.”
Martinez is now expected to take a break before returning to club football, having previously worked for Everton between 2013 and 2016.
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