Former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has been chosen manager of Portugal, according to the country’s football organization (FPF).

“I appreciate the enthusiasm and ambition with which he [Martinez] received the invitation,” FPF president Fernando Gomes told a news conference.

“This is an important moment for the national team.”

Following Belgium’s sad World Cup group stage elimination, the Spaniard resigned as coach, claiming he had taken the choice to finish his six-year career some time ago and would have departed even if they had won the tournament.

It marked the end of a lengthy tenure in command of the team he led to the top of FIFA’s global rankings and third place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The 49-year-old takes over for former Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who resigned after the side was stunned by Morocco in the quarter-finals in Qatar.