Roberto Martinez, the 52-year-old Spanish coach who just parted ways with Portugal’s national team, has rapidly become the bookmakers’ favorite to take charge of Scotland. His odds have collapsed from 25/1 to 2/1 in a matter of days, the kind of move that usually means someone, somewhere, knows something.
The Scottish Football Association is hunting for a replacement after Steve Clarke officially resigned following Scotland’s group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup.
Why Martinez, why now
Martinez married Scottish woman Beth Thomson in 2009. Before that, he had a playing stint at Motherwell during the 2001-02 season. For a country that occasionally struggles to attract elite managerial talent, having a coach with real personal roots in the nation is a meaningful differentiator.
Martinez became available after the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed his departure following Portugal’s round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup.
No other candidate has gained meaningful traction in public discussions about the role.
Martinez’s managerial track record
His time at Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League produced one of football’s great Cinderella stories when the club won the FA Cup in 2013. He then moved to Everton, where initial promise gave way to defensive frailties and an eventual sacking. The Belgium national team job followed, and Martinez guided the Red Devils to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In January 2023, he took charge of Portugal, concluding his term after their exit from the 2026 World Cup.
What this means for Scottish football
Steve Clarke’s squad exited during the group stage at the 2026 World Cup, triggering the Scottish FA’s search for a successor. Martinez would be, by some distance, the most decorated coach Scotland has appointed in the modern era, having coached at World Cups, managed in the Premier League, and led two different national teams to major tournaments.
Odds shifting from 25/1 to 2/1 in days suggests this is more than idle speculation. Scottish media reports have cited sources as strongly linking Martinez to the vacancy, with official confirmation from the Scottish FA remaining sparse.
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