Portugal’s football coach steps down

LISBON: Portugal coach Paulo Bento has left his position with the national side by mutual consent, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced on Thursday.

Despite being captained by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal bowed out in the group stage of the World Cup in June.

The former Portuguese international´s last match at the helm was a 1-0 home defeat to Albania last Sunday in their first qualifier for Euro 2016.

A tenacious, tough-tackling defensive midfielder during his playing career, the 45-year-old took over the national side in September 2010 and last April extended his contract until 2016.

He took Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2012, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Spain on penalties in the semi-finals, but he could not repeat the feat at the World Cup and the start to their European Championship qualifying campaign caused alarm.

The FPF said that his successor "will be announced shortly" as they thanked Bento "for all he did for the national team".

Portugal are next in action in October, when they face France away in a friendly before going to Denmark in a Euro 2016 qualifier. (AFP)