Portugal manager Paulo Bento resigns

Portugal's opening loss at the European Qualifiers to Albania appears to have been the final nail in the coffin for Paulo Bento. 

Bento resigned from being manager of the Portuguese national team this past Thursday, almost four years after accepting the position.

The former Portuguese international took over the managerial position Sept. 20 2010 after Carlos Queiroz was dismissed when the country struggled during the early stages of qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.

In total, Bento led Portugal through two successful qualifications for the 2012 European Championship and 2014 World Cup. 

While the country experienced success at the 2012 Euro's when they finished in fourth after falling to Spain in the semi-finals, their World Cup performance was a bitter disappointment to the nation.

Portugal ended up bowing out of the 2014 World Cup when they failed to get past the group stage and were eliminated by the United States on goal differential.

Bento signed a contract extension in April that would have seen his tenure last through the 2016 European Championship, but the team's poor showing during the World Cup and their miserable loss to Albania was too much for the 45-year-old to overcome.