Jorge Jesus has had a rave review from a former Portugal regular.
The veteran coach is on the brink of being announced as his country’s new coach after Roberto Martinez stepped down.
Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup in the last 16 by Spain and Jesus quickly emerged as the favourite.
Not only is he a free agent since leaving Al Nassr, but a serial winner in every country where he’s coached.
Jorge Jesus rated as Portugal’s best coach
And one of his former players, 51-time Portugal international Jorge Andrade, is utterly convinced by the pick.
“You can criticise me,” he began. “But Jorge Jesus is ten times better than all the others.
“He was ten times better than all my coaches. My first coach was Fernando Santos. European champion. Then I had Jesus. Then I had Octavio Machado and Jose Mourinho.
“Then I went to Spain, I had Irureta, I had Caparros and I had Ranieri at Juventus. I also had Antonio Oliveira, Jesualdo Ferreira and Scolari in the national team.
“Jorge Jesus, on and off the field, is ten times better than the others.”
Conditions of Jesus’ Portugal deal
Jesus is expected to sign on a deal through to the end of 2030, meaning he will coach at Euro 2028 and the next World Cup.
He talked up the job ever since stepping down from Al Nassr as a Saudi Pro League champion.
There he was on a whopping €12million per-year, and is expected to accept a third of that at Portugal.
A Bola reports that Jorge Jesus will be accompanied by assistants Joao de Deus and Fabio Jesus, physical trainer Marcio Sampaio, and analysts Rodrigo Araujo and Gil Henriques.
Speaking after leaving Nassr, he said: Referencing that he was offered the Brazil job after his success in the country, he said: “Who can say no to the national team?
“I’ve already said no to one of the best national teams in the world [Brazil], I can’t say no to another…
“I’ll be on vacation in Portugal and then I’ll go to Brazil to see my friends in Rio. We’ll see what happens until June.
“I’m not considering that possibility. The World Cup is coming, Portugal needs peace and quiet, the coach needs peace and quiet, I don’t want to get involved in that mess.”
Earlier reports claimed that Jesus had agreed a return to Fenerbahce, and he later announced he wouldn’t be staying at Nassr.
Asked about his successes, he mentioned Fener unprovoked.
“It’s not just in Saudi Arabia. I won in Portugal, in Brazil, Fenerbahce, Al Hilal… The only country where I wasn’t league champion was Fenerbahce…” he said.
“Maybe I have a story to finish at Fenerbahce. It’s one of the possibilities. I’ll think about it.
“I’m going to Portugal for a few days of vacation. Then I plan to go to Brazil for a few days, see my friends. Next year we’ll see where I end up.”
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