On Thursday, Fernando Santos announced his resignation as manager of Portugal after eight years in charge of the national team.
Bruno Fernandes, a midfielder for Manchester United, has expressed gratitude to Fernando Santos for choosing to resign as Portugal’s manager following their World Cup elimination.
In the quarterfinal stage of the competition in Qatar, Portugal was eliminated by Morocco. The Moroccan team defeated Santos’ team 1-0. The 68-year-old departs his position after eight years in command, during which time he guided the nation to victory at the 2016 and 2019 Nations League inaugural tournaments.
Despite the underwhelming performance in the Middle East, United ace Fernandes – who registered two goals and three assists at the World Cup – made an emotional post on social media, thanking Santos for his efforts during his stint as manager.
“Many thanks to mister Fernando Santos,” Fernandes wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for the opportunity to represent our country and for your trust in us over the past few years.
“As a Portuguese, thank you for putting Portugal at the top of Europe and returning confidence and belief to a “small” country that it was possible to be among the “big ones”.
“Moments of glory and joy and others of sadness and frustration, but history was made and will forever be marked in the hearts of all Portuguese.”
In a statement announcing the coach’s departure, the Portuguese Football Federation said: “It was an honor to have a coach and a person like Fernando Santos at the head of the national team.
“Fernando Santos and his technical staff have served the FPF [Portuguese Football Federation] for eight exceptional years, and the FPF thinks that this appreciation is also on behalf of the Portuguese people. The process of selecting the following national coach will now be started by the FPF board.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, a former Reds forward who was benched for the matches against Switzerland and Morocco, left the pitch in tears after the final siren on Saturday.
