BRUSSELS (Belgium): Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has extended his contract through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Belgian media reported on Saturday.
Belgium are the current top-side in the FIFA rankings.
There was no official confirmation from the Belgian football association, but newspapers said Martinez would stay in charge through to the next World Cup after negotiating a new two-year deal.
His contract was up after this year’s European Championship, which has been shifted back a year because of the coronavirus crisis.
The 46-year-old had already said in interviews over the last weeks he wanted to stay in charge in order to take Belgium to Euro 2021, where they are drawn in Group B and will play Denmark, Finland and Russia.
On the current lockdown in sports including football, the former Everton manager Martinez said the 2019-20 season must be concluded.
“I think the only solution is to finish the campaign,” Martinez told BBC.
“You need to make sure that everyone is aware there is a big risk of sending big institutions, institutions of football that have been alive for over 100 years, into a very difficult financial position. That’s the reality.
“I think Uefa and Fifa have taken the right approach in prioritising domestic football.”
