The Belgian FA have announced that Roberto Martínez has resigned from his post as national team manager after exiting the Qatar World Cup 2022 at the Group Stage.
Following Thursday's unexpected Qatar World Cup 2022 group stage exit, Roberto Martinez announced his resignation as manager of Belgium. Croatia held Belgium to a scoreless draw, which allowed Belgium only to earn four points and place third in Group F.
"That was my last game with the national team, I can't carry on," Martinez said in his post-match press conference. "It's the time for me to accept that this is the last game."
"Today we were ourselves again. It is never easy to win a match at a World Cup. In that first match against Canada we won, but we weren't ourselves. We deservedly lost the second match against Morocco. We weren't ready," the Spaniard added.
"Today we created a lot of chances, so no, I have no regrets. We can leave the World Cup with our heads held high. Of course, elimination in the group stage is not enough for Belgium. We wanted to push through, but every country wants that. This is the best tournament in the world. We won our three group matches at the [2018] World Cup, and also at the [2020] European Championship. But then we were also eliminated. For me the feeling is the same. I can accept this way of losing," he added.
The Belgium FA, too, said in a statement, "Roberto Martinez has announced that he will stop as national coach of the Belgian Red Devils. The decision was already made before the tournament."
Roberto Martinez has announced that he will stop as national coach of the Belgian Red Devils. pic.twitter.com/l7EBqiOAeD
— Royal Belgian FA (@RoyalBelgianFA)Romelu Lukaku, a striker for Belgium's "Golden Generation," had a few opportunities in the second half but failed to take advantage of them. This is the first time since 1998 that Belgium has failed to progress beyond the knockout stages of the World Cup.
When Martinez became the team's manager in 2016, he guided Belgium to the World Cup semifinals and a third-place finish in 2018. Additionally, the Red Devils advanced to the 2020 European Championship quarterfinals.
Before their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign begins with a match against Sweden in March 2023, the Red Devils will search for a new head coach.
"Took the Belgium FA's money, took a big fat shit on their golden generation and dipped," wrote a miffed Belgium fan on Twitter after Martinez stepped down as manager.
Another fan added, "After you don waste their best generation till date," while a third remarked, "They should have sacked him long ago."
Here's a look at some of the reactions on the micro-blogging site:
Took the Belgium FA's money, took a big fat shit on their golden generation and dipped https://t.co/facszxLo9N pic.twitter.com/6gTtwSvm9k
— OGi 🐐 (@PSGOgi)After you don waste their best generation till date https://t.co/8cgmJYe5Ut
— Easy ⚽ (@jefiyke)They should have sacked him long ago https://t.co/RaqQtD12du
— Awomiiiii⚡️ (@Awelan_aaa)Roberto martinez wasted this golden generation. https://t.co/tw539DeFLb
— Mr Banki (@BankoleMr)I want to thank Roberto for the the magical performances of team over the years. But was absolutely a HORROR for Belgium. Martinez is responsible for failing to prepare & balance out between generation & new players. Shame! https://t.co/DHmNiH85dp
— Best Health 4 You (@besthealthyou)Roberto Martinez should *never* have been coaching Belgium, especially with their golden generation. Tragic waste
— a filthy piece of toerag ⎊ (@akil_93)Roberto Martinez wasted a whole Golden Generation under the watch of the actions and inactions of the FA. How would a GG not make a single fina in their prime? They could have gotten more by trying at least 3 managers in those years
— Dotun Olufemi Sunday (@Somidotun7)Roberto Martinez leaving Belgium, after achieving close to nothing with their golden generation. Big fraud.
— Hszn (@Hasynx_)Mind boggling that Roberto Martinez got sacked by Everton and landed the Belgium job. Someone fucked up trusting him with the golden generation.
— Killmonger (@AntonClarke1)What I want to know is why did Belgium entrust, of all people, Roberto Martinez with their golden generation? Why?
— JSN (@Oli333)The reason why this golden generation of Belgium failed so bad in tournaments is because they stayed with Roberto Martinez for too long. He's a terrible manager
— Ali (@Ali_mka97)Roberto martinez has blood on his hands for ruining Belgium's golden generation's chance of winning a major international trophy https://t.co/fcTKk5pwhi
— Zoubayr Soopun ☪️🇲🇺 🇵🇸 (@ZoubayrS)Belgium wasted a golden generation of talent with Roberto Martinez as manager. Now he’ll probably head off and ruin some other team too.
— Martin (@martinrmcgregor)Roberto Martinez wasted the “golden generation”
— JoZAy 🇬🇭 (@Joffrey_simon)Allowing Roberto Martinez to be in charge of the golden generation of Belgium players for its ENTIRE lifespan is comical 😭
— patty. (@jesuispattieb)How Roberto Martinez handled the Belgian golden generation pic.twitter.com/GYNpCPI1cv
— Dennis Ramdass 🇹🇹 🇺🇸 👨🏾💻 (@dramdass)Genuinely can’t get my head around how wasted their golden generation on Roberto Martinez & Marc Wilmots.
— Nima Tavallaey Roodsari (@NimaTavRood)Belgian golden generation, finally laid to rest, thanks to Roberto Martinez!
What a waste of talents!! pic.twitter.com/tBXnD0Bhkt