Portugal coach Humberto Coelho resigned Wednesday just minutes after a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to France in the Euro 2000 semifinals in Brussels.
Coelho told a press conference that he would step down immediately and said Portugal would have to find a new coach for their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Fifty-year-old Coelho, full name Humberto Manuel de Jesus Coelho, replaced Artur Jorge as Portugal coach in 1997.
As a player he was a sweeper and spent the vast majority of that time with Benfica after starting out with FC Ramaldense. He also had a brief stint at French first division club Paris St Germain.
He won 69 caps, scoring six goals for the national team.
In taking his country to the semifinals of a major tournament he has equaled the best ever performance of a Portugal coach.
Zinedine Zidane's golden goal from the penalty spot gave France victory after Thierry Henry had earlier equalized a first-half opener from Portugal's Nuno Gomes - (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
