Fernando Santos Leaves the Portuguese National Team

After losing to Morocco in a tough match, Fernando Santos left the Portuguese national team on Thursday. The Portuguese coach had been in charge of Cristiano Ronaldo's team for eight years and acknowledged that it is normal for not everyone to be happy with the decisions he made as a coach. He also assured that it was a privilege to lead the team.

"When managing groups, difficult decisions have to be made. It is normal for not everyone to be happy with the decisions I made," he said in a farewell message released after the announcement of his departure, agreed upon with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

Santos stated that "everyone knows" that the decisions he made were thinking about what would be "the best" for the team's course and thanked all the players he worked with since 2014, "without exception."

"I leave with an enormous feeling of gratitude. Enormous for the privilege of having been the national coach and for the honor of representing our country. It was a dream that I fulfilled and a life goal that I accomplished," he said.

The former coach also thanked the club coaches who sent players to the national team, his technical team, and the Federation.

In addition, he mentioned Fernando Gomes, the president of the FPF, who "always" supported him "and was what a leader should be in good times, but above all in the most difficult times."

"From now on, I will be one more among the millions who vibrate and support the team. I will be body and soul as always, not on the field anymore, but in the stands and anywhere else, singing our anthem and wishing that our team, the team of all of us, brings us much joy," he concluded.

Santos left his position as coach on Thursday after eight years and after Portugal's elimination in the quarterfinals of the Qatar World Cup against Morocco. Under his leadership, Portugal became the champion of the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 Nations League.