Portuguese coach Paulo Bento is said to have received an offer to manage the national team, but he has realized it's not the right time to accept the offer yet. This was reported by several Portuguese publications. According to reports, the general direction and permissible powers were discussed during the negotiations, but the proposed conditions did not fully convince the specialist.
"The Uzbekistan national team qualified for the next World Cup in 2026 and expected Paulo Bento to lead the team in the final stage. However, the conditions offered to the Portuguese specialist were not sufficiently attractive," O Jogo wrote. The emphasis was placed on factors such as the long-term concept of the project, resource allocation, and the trainer's freedom of decision-making.
"The 56-year-old Portuguese coach realized that the conditions he considered necessary for participation in the project were not met and therefore declined the offer," Record added. According to the publication's definition, it is unclear in which areas Bentu expects guarantees, but such issues as professional infrastructure, the sports medicine system, the scouting network, and the strategy for working with youth often form the core of such negotiations.
According to Portuguese media, detailed information about which specific conditions did not satisfy the specialist was not provided. At the same time, while various national teams are still competing for 2026 World Cup spots, Paulo Bento remains open to new offers to wait for an opportunity to provide the necessary environment and conditions for his return to work. That is, he waits unhurriedly for an environment that corresponds to his theory.
Paulu Bentu began his coaching career in 2005 in his homeland - at the club "Sporting," he established himself as a strategist who adheres to strict rules and likes to work systematically. Later, he worked for the Brazilian "Cruzeyro," the Greek "Olimpiakos," and the Chinese "Chunsin Lifan," enriching the experience gained in various football schools. These stages gave Bentu the ability to adapt to different cultures and different playing styles.
In 2010-2014, he coached the Portugal national team, leading them to the semi-finals at Euro 2012. Later, with the South Korean national team, he reached the final stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and earned respect in Asia. In recent years, working for the UAE national team, he tried to form a competitive squad in regional competitions.
Currently, the national team is managed by Temur Kapadze. It is noted that under his leadership, special attention is paid to the issues of generational change, internal competition, and discipline within the team. At the same time, official sources have not provided public information on this topic: the UFA has never reported any negotiations with Paulo Bento.
In conclusion, as the Portuguese press wrote, there was a proposal, but since the essential conditions for Paulo Bento were not fully met, he reconsidered the decision against the backdrop of the successes achieved and preferred not to take responsibility without the reforms he expected. Therefore, while remaining open to new projects for now, he expects the emergence of specific programs and guarantees that correspond to his principles.
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