Martinez insists he has 'no regrets' despite group stage elimination

‘That was my last game… it was emotional’: Roberto Martinez confirms that he will RESIGN as Belgium boss after World Cup elimination – and insists he has ‘no regrets’ over disappointing campaign in Qatar

  • Roberto Martinez has confirmed he will step down as Belgium boss immediately
  • The national side were eliminated from the World Cup in disappointing fashion 
  • Belgium failed to qualify from their group with Morocco, Croatia and Canada 
  • The Red Devils coach says he has ‘no regrets’ despite their early elimination 
  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed he will step down as head coach of the national side after their World Cup elimination.

The Red Devils were knocked out of the competition in disappointing fashion after being held to a 0-0 draw with Croatia in their final Group F match.

Martinez confirmed that it was an ’emotional’ moment for him as he prepared to part ways with the national side after six years in charge.

Roberto Martinez confirmed he will step down as Belgium boss after World Cup elimination

The Red Devils crashed out in the group stages after failing to beat Croatia on Thursday

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Martinez said: ‘That was my last game with the national team and it was emotional as you can imagine.

‘I always work towards long-term projects and they need to be set in advance. That was always the plan’.

In a tweet by the Belgian FA shortly after the match, they confirmed that Martinez had already made the decision to step down prior to the World Cup commencing in November. 

The Spaniard had coached Belgium since 2016 and during his tenure led them to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euro quarter-finals in 2020. 

Martinez consoles his players after they are knocked out of the competition in Qatar

Martinez claims that his can ‘leave with our heads held high’ despite a disappointing showing 

Belgium needed a win over Croatia to stand a chance of progressing in the tournament but failed to score and were held to a 0-0 draw.

Reflecting on the result, Martinez said: ‘It’s not easy to win games in the World Cup. We weren’t ourselves in first game we had a deserved defeat in second game. 

‘Today we were ready, we created opportunities and today there is no regrets. We’re out but we can leave with our heads held high.

‘You see Youri Tielemans and other young players – the golden generation is doing something that is bringing the next generation on. It’s not what names are on the pitch, the legacy can be left in many ways.’

The 49-year-old will now step down from the fourth managerial position of his career

Martinez will now step down from the fourth job of his managerial career having had stints in charge of Swansea, Wigan, Everton and the Red Devils. 

From his 80 games in charge of the national side, the 49-year-old boasted an impressive 70 per cent win rate but struggled to build on that out in Qatar. 

Instead, Morocco and Croatia will be progressing from Group F into the knockout rounds. 

Croatia will face the winner of Group E in the round of 16 after securing qualification




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