Jorge Jesus will become the oldest manager to lead the Portugal national football team on Thursday when the 72-year-old makes his debut in their Nations League opener against Wales.
The Group A4 match will kick off at 19:45 at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. Jesus was announced as the new manager on July 9, days before his 72nd birthday.
He surpasses Fernando Santos, who was 68 when he took charge of his final game, a 1-0 quarter-final loss to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.
Santos remains Portugal's longest-serving manager, holding the position for eight years and three months between September 2014 and December 2022. He guided the team to victory at Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.
Replacing Roberto Martínez
Jesus is the first manager hired under the presidency of Portuguese Football Federation head Pedro Proença. He replaces Spanish manager Roberto Martínez, who departed at the end of his contract following Portugal's round of 16 elimination by Spain at the 2026 World Cup. Under Martínez, the team won the 2025 Nations League.
At his introductory press conference, Jesus dismissed concerns about his age, saying he felt like a 50-year-old. He said he was fortunate to have the health to train for an hour or two every day, was prepared for a difficult challenge, and was convinced the team would win.
Four decades of coaching
The appointment marks Jesus's first role managing a national team in a career spanning almost 40 years. He began managing at Amora in the third division during the 1989/90 season.
Since then, he has managed Felgueiras, União da Madeira, Estrela da Amadora, Vitória de Setúbal, Vitória de Guimarães, Moreirense, União de Leiria, Belenenses, Sporting de Braga, Benfica, Sporting, Al Hilal, Flamengo and Fenerbahçe.
He left Saudi club Al Nassr in May after winning a second Saudi league title, repeating the success he achieved with Al Hilal in the 2023/24 season. At Al Nassr, he managed a squad featuring Portugal internationals Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix.
His trophy cabinet includes the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian league title with Flamengo, three Portuguese league titles with Benfica, and a Turkish Cup. He has also won a Portuguese Cup, two Supertaças Cândido de Oliveira and six Portuguese League Cups, one of which he won with Sporting.
Nations League fixtures
During this first qualification window, Portugal will also play two games against Norway. They visit Oslo on September 27 before hosting the return fixture at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto on October 4.
Between the two Norway matches, the team will play Denmark in Copenhagen on October 1.
