Fernando Santos

In November 2019, he qualified Portugal for Euro 2020 after a 2-0 win over Luxembourg, a match which Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 99th international goal.

In June 2017, he managed Portugal to third place in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, losing to Chile in the semi-finals in a penalty shootout.

On 10 October 2017, the day of his 63rd birthday, Santos coached Portugal to a 2–0 win over Switzerland at the Estádio da Luz, which enabled them to finish the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with nine wins in ten games. In the finals in Russia, the tournament ended in the round-of-16 after a 1–2 loss against Uruguay. He won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, his second major trophy with Portugal, beating Netherlands on home soil in the final in Porto.

On 10 July 2016, after three group stage draws that enabled group stage qualification as third, Santos coached Portugal to its first-ever major international conquest, after a 1–0 extra time defeat of the hosts. The only win in 90 minutes occurred in the semi-finals, against Wales, but his team was also the only undefeated in the tournament. In winning Euro 2016, he delivered the first major trophy for Portugal.

In winning Euro 2016, Santos started with a diamond midfield with William Carvalho protecting the defence and Adrien Silva allowed to drift further forward. He also demonstrates adaptability in his tactics. After the early injury to Cristiano Ronaldo in the final, Santos summoned Ricardo Quaresma and played him wide on the right, with Nani becoming a lone striker and Portugal switching to a 4-3-3 system. Santos’s side now looked more threatening down the flanks, particularly the left – where João Mário positioned himself intelligently inside, opening up space for Raphaël Guerreiro to fly forward on the overlap. He was credited for taking what was considered not a vintage Portugal side to their first major international trophy.

Santos was also in charge during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, as Greece reached the knockout stage for the first time ever. Shortly before the start of the penalty shootout against Costa Rica, eventually lost 3–5, he was sent off by referee Ben Williams for apparent dissent. He watched the decision unfold on a television from inside the stadium, and the defeat marked the end of his tenure as his contract expired the very next day; he was initially banned for eight matches for the incident, reduced to six upon appeal.

On 23 September 2014, Santos was chosen as the new manager of Portugal, after Paulo Bento being fired due to poor results. His first game in charge took place on 14 October in a 1–0 win in Denmark for the Euro 2016 qualifiers, and the side went on to reach the finals in France; during his suspension, it was Ilídio Vale that sat on the bench.

Santos is a frequent smoker and during Euro 2012 mentioned 'Maybe because I think about the tactics so much is the reason I smoke. I have to try to find the right options and tactics and when I smoke I have more time to reflect' during a press conference.

In 2010, he was appointed at the helm of the Greek national team, coaching them in a World Cup and one European Championship. Subsequently, he was appointed coach of Portugal in 2014 and led the country to victory in Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.

On 19 May 2010, despite a chance of competing again in the Champions League, Santos announced his decision of leaving the Thessaloniki-based side in a press conference.

On 1 July 2010, Santos was named the new coach of the Greece national team, succeeding longtime incumbent Otto Rehhagel on a two-year deal. He qualified the country to the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, subsequently reaching the last-eight stage.

After a third place in his debut season, only two points behind champions Porto, Santos witnessed the departure of captain and top scorer Simão Sabrosa to Atlético Madrid during pre-season. On 20 August 2007, after a 1–1 away draw against Leixões SC, he was sacked and replaced with José Antonio Camacho.

Santos returned to Greece and its Superleague in early September 2007, signing a three-year contract with PAOK FC. There, he joined forces with director of football – and former international – Theodoros Zagorakis, leading the team to the second position in 2009–10.

On 20 May 2006, Santos joined former youth club Benfica. He was responsible for the signing of former AEK player Kostas Katsouranis the following month.

Santos returned to his country for the 2003–04 campaign, replacing László Bölöni at the helm of Sporting. He was relieved of his duties on 2 June 2004, after his team was only able to rank third.

From 2004 to 2006, Santos managed former club AEK: he led them to consecutive top-three finishes during his tenure, being voted Manager of the Year in the former season.

In 2001, Santos was appointed at AEK Athens F.C. in the Superleague Greece, winning the domestic cup and losing the league to Olympiacos F.C. on goal difference. Staying in the country, he then joined Panathinaikos FC, leaving by mutual consent after only four months.

Santos managed Portugal's Big Three, winning five major titles with Porto, including the Primeira Liga. For the better part of the 2000s he worked in Greece, mainly with AEK Athens and PAOK.

Having signed for the latter side in summer 1998, Santos won the national championship and the Portuguese Supercup in his first season. He finished second in the following to Sporting CP, and led the team to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Santos started working as a manager immediately after retiring. He helped Estoril return to the top level in 1991 and, in the following ten years, only worked in that competition, being in charge of C.F. Estrela da Amadora and FC Porto.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 161 games and two goals over eight seasons, almost always with Estoril. After retiring, he worked as a coach for several decades, starting out at his main club in 1988.

Santos scored his first goals in the top division in the 1978–79 campaign, only missing one league game in an eventual 11th-place finish. For 1979–80, he moved to fellow league team C.S. Marítimo, where he also first-choice; having returned to his previous club, he played with them a further eight years (five being spent in the Segunda Liga) before retiring at the age of 33.

Santos earned a degree in electrical and telecommunications engineering, awarded in 1977 by the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa. As he was in charge when Porto won its fifth consecutive championship in 1999, he was nicknamed Engenheiro do Penta (Penta's engineer). In addition to his native Portuguese, Santos also speaks English.

Santos made his Primeira Liga debut on 7 September 1975, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 home win against S.C. Farense. He finished his first season with a further 12 appearances, helping his team to the eighth position.

Santos has spoken about the influence of English pioneer Jimmy Hagan, who managed Santos when he was a youth player in Benfica in 1970. Santos emphasies his core values, namely commitment, courage and self-sacrifice in his teams. He has prioritised functionality in his team approaches.

Fernando Manuel Fernandes da Costa Santos GOM (born 10 October 1954) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a defender, and the current manager of the Portugal national team.