From Southgate to Martinez: Which World Cup 2022 managers could leave?

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 19 Dec 2022 17:18 GMT
• 5 min read

The 2022 World Cup has come and gone, with Argentina celebrating victory and other nations lamenting what might have been.

Even while the tournament was still going on, there were plenty of managerial changes as those who fell short in Qatar jumped or were pushed from their positions.

FootballTransfers takes a look at which managers have already gone or could end up leaving their roles after the 2022 World Cup.

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Tite (Brazil)

One manager who had already confirmed his departure was Tite, with the Brazil manager announcing his intention to leave earlier this year, regardless of his side’s performance in Qatar.

Having dominated Brazilian football with Corinthians, Tite led Brazil to Copa America success in 2019 and admitted the World Cup was the last item on his checklist before resigning.

But there was to be no dream ending, as Brazil were frustrated in the quarter-final by Croatia and eventually went out on penalties, ending Tite's tenure on a low note.

Gareth Southgate (England

For a coach that has led his side to their best tournament performances in more than 50 years, Gareth Southgate has been under immense pressure during his time as England boss.

England were semi-finalists at the 2018 World Cup before suffering penalty shootout heartbreak in the final of last year’s European Championships but headed to Qatar on the back of six games without a win and relegation from the Nations League.

Southgate's charges could not deliver glory, bowing out to France in the last eight, but the team showed enough promise even in defeat to ensure the manager would be once more confirmed in his post through 2024.

Didier Deschamps (France)

France fell short of becoming the first team in 60 years to retain the World Cup in a bid to round off an incredible tenure under Didier Deschamps.

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Deschamps is reportedly set to be replaced by Zinedine Zidane after the tournament regardless of France’s performance following a decade in charge, but he made no comment on his continuity following defeat in the final to Argentina.

Under Deschamps Les Bleus were quarter-finalists in 2014 and runners up in the 2016 European Championships before lifting the World Cup in Russia and the Nations League last year.

Louis van Gaal (Netherlands)

Having come out of retirement to take the Netherlands job last year, Louis van Gaal has called it quits again.

The 71-year-old was in his third spell in charge of his country, having seen his previous Dutch sides fail to qualify for the 2002 World Cup before clinching a third-place finish in 2014.

Van Gaal took his team to the quarter finals, where they lost out on penalties to eventual winners Argentina.

Roberto Martinez (Belgium)

Touted as the ‘golden generation’ and topping the FIFA World Rankings for three straight years, most would say Belgium underachieved under Roberto Martinez’s stewardship.

The Spaniard led Belgium to their best-ever World Cup performance when they finished third in 2018 but a quarter-finals exit in Euro 2020 disappointed many supporters.

Qatar proved even worse for the Red Devils, who were bundled out in the group stage - a result that led to Martinez's swift resignation.

Luis Enrique (Spain)

Luis Enrique and Spain looked set to make a big splash at the World Cup, the former trying out a new guise as Twitch personality, while his team roared into contention by smashing Costa Rica 7-0 in the opening match.

But the wheels came off after that, with Spain paying the price for their indecision around goal. Penalty defeat against Morocco in the last 16 ended their interest in the competition, and Luis Enrique's time on the bench.

Gerardo Martino (Mexico)

Martino had overseen a strong World Cup campaign at the helm of Paraguay back in 2010, but this one was a disaster from start to finish.

Already questioned by critics back home before a single ball had been kicked, Martino saw his team tie Poland and lose to his native Argentina to face elimination, which was finally confirmed via goal difference despite beating Saudi Arabia.

Otto Addo (Ghana)

Addo had taken on the Ghana job on a temporary basis ahead of this year's World Cup play-off matches, and confirmed his intention to step down when their campaign in Qatar ended with two defeats and a single group-stage victory. He will return to Borussia Dortmund, where he works as a talent scout.

Paulo Bento (South Korea)

Bento ended his four-year association with South Korea after going out at the last-16 stage.

Korea squeezed past Uruguay to gain qualification in nerve-wracking fashion but their reward was a clash with Brazil, who ran riot in a 4-1 win that sent the Asian nation home.

Fernando Santos (Portugal)

Fernando Santos saw his eight-year Portugal tenure come to an end after another disappointing World Cup campaign.

In spite of Euro 2016 glory Santos was often the focus for criticism over his negative play and for failing to get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo.

And Ronaldo marked the end of his tenure as he was benched while Portugal suffered a shock exit at the hands of Morocco, sealing the manager's fate.

Hansi Flick (Germany)

Hansi Flick has kept his post as Germany manager in spite of their catastrophic World Cup performance.

For the second straight tournament Germany crashed out in the group stages, but just as Joachim Low was backed after the 2018 elimination Flick looks likely to be given another chance to prove his ability on the bench.