Former Real Madrid defender Pepe has been speaking at the Portugal Football Summit in Lisbon on Saturday, using his elite knowledge of the beautiful game to talk all things Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jose Mourinho’s return to his homeland via his appointment as the new Benfica head coach.
GIVEMESPORT correspondents Ben Jacobs and Paul Gilmour are in attendance at the event, with a host of different figures speaking on stage about a multitude of topics. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin spoke on the Super League, the new Champions League format, and more. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was also involved, discussing Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity in the game.
Retired Defender Pepe Speaks About The Portugal National Team
Pepe celebrates last-ditch tackle for Portugal
Pepe won 34 trophies during his career, with the 42-year-old only announcing his retirement last year. Among the shiniest achievements in his trophy cabinet include three Champions League titles, the 2016 European Championship, and the 2019 Nations League. Speaking about his recent visit to watch his compatriots win the 2025 Nations League, he said:
“I was there for the first Nations League title, and it was exciting. This time, it was a special moment for Portugal and for me, being able to bring the cup to my teammates, my former teammates, and Portugal played a beautiful game against Spain.”
As a serial winner and, to many, a bit of a mentality monster, it would be very easy for Pep to feel envious of those still playing at the top of the game, but maintains that the decision to hang up the boots last summer was the right time to do so.
On life after football, he added: “As for retirement, I’m fine, I’m enjoying this post-career moment with my family, and family always helps. It’s been a very good time to be with my children and have time to enjoy this phase of life.”
He Waxed Lyrical Of His Beloved Friend Cristiano Ronaldo
Nobody has played more games alongside Pepe than Cristiano Ronaldo, with the pair sharing the pitch on 348 occasions – amounting to just over 28,000 minutes of action, or roughly 19.4 days. While Pepe has shown remarkable longevity, it now looks as though his old friend will surpass him by quite some distance. On that fact, Pepe said:
“Cristiano is always breaking records and I’m very happy for him. Besides being a great player and an excellent person, he is a friend and I hope he can continue playing for many years to come. I think it will be difficult for us fans when he decides to stop, to turn on the television and no longer see the name Cristiano Ronaldo. I hope he continues for many, many more years and that he can bring us Portuguese people much joy and continue to be such an important figure in the world of sport.”
He added: “I hope he can extend his career for a long time. He’s the one who has to feel it, he’s the one who has to know (when to stop). For us fans, his friends, it will be very difficult to turn on the television and not see his name there, not see his celebration anymore, which the whole stadium does.
“But I hope that when he makes that decision, he makes it well, he makes it consciously, and surely he will be prepared for that decision.”
Pepe Hopes That Jose Mourinho Will One Day Coach Portugal
Jose Mourinho recently announced his return to Portugal to take charge of Benfica, a little over two decades after first leaving the club before famously guiding rivals Porto to an unlikely Champions League triumph. Speaking about his return, Pepe expressed hope that the Special One will one day become Portugal’s operator-in-chief. He said at the Portugal Football Summit:
“He has shown interest in coaching the Portuguese national team. He is a coach with an impressive track record and is now here in Portuguese football. His presence is good for Portuguese football because it raises the Portuguese league to another level, globally speaking. I hope that he can coach the national team in the future because that is his wish too.”
It’s safe to say those are some pretty bold statements from Pepe, who seems to have a bit of inside knowledge about his former Real Madrid coach’s ambitions. Just when it looked like the 62-year-old was running out of steam – with struggles at Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce suggesting he might be losing some of his magic – a return closer to home could well reignite the spark in the former Chelsea boss.