Luis Enrique is not allowed to continue as national coach of Spain after the early World Cup in Qatar – his successor is the previous U21 coach Luis de la Fuente.
This was announced by the Spanish football association RFEF. “Both president Luis Rubiales and sporting director José Francisco Molina have informed the coach of this decision,” read a press statement. A few minutes later, the association announced the new head coach.
Luis Enrique was defeated on penalties by Morocco in the round of 16 at the World Cup with title contenders Spain. The association wrote that they wanted to start a new project with the aim of building on the progress made under Luis Enrique and his coaching staff. The former international, whose contract expires at the end of the year, took office in 2018. In 2019, he paused for several months after his daughter Xana was diagnosed with cancer and died at the age of nine. At the EM 2021 he reached the semi-finals with La Roja.
The RFEF expressly praised Luis Enrique for his work: “The Asturian coach, when he took office in 2018, succeeded in giving the selection new impetus through a far-reaching renewal that has enabled a generational change in the team and in Spanish football.”
The association’s board of directors still has to approve the appointment of de la Fuente on Monday. The 61-year-old named the Spanish youth U21 European champions in Italy in 2019 after beating Germany 2-1 in the final. He also won silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with his team, which only lost the final against Brazil after extra time.
De la Fuente is now expected to lead La Roja to Germany in 2024, in qualifying he will face Scotland, Norway, Cyprus and Georgia. The selection with the Barcelona young stars Gavi (18) and Pedri (20), who the new coach knows very well, is considered a team with great prospects despite the World Cup disappointment.
