Spain has chosen Luis de la Fuente as their preferred candidate to succeed Luis Enrique as head coach of the senior men’s team. Things did not go as planned for La Roja under Enrique at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as the team did not advance past the Round of 16.
After finishing second in Group E, the 2010 world champions advanced to the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup, but they were eliminated after losing on penalties to Morocco in the knockout phase.
Spain’s exit from the FIFA World Cup raised questions about Enrique’s future as head coach. These fears were confirmed on Thursday, when the two parties announced their separation.
The Spanish FA announced De la Fuente’s replacement less than an hour after confirming Enrique’s departure. The appointment is expected to be approved by the federation’s board of directors on Monday, 12 December.
“The RFEF has chosen Luis de la Fuente as the new (Spain) coach. The new coach will make his debut in March for Euro 2024 qualifiers, taking charge of his first games against Norway and Scotland,
the Spanish football association said in a statement.
On Monday, De la Fuente will be officially introduced as the new coach. The 61-year-old prefers his teams to keep possession of the ball, but he is more adaptable than Enrique and is willing to try different strategies when necessary.
Since 2013, De la Fuente has been working with the Spanish federation. Following a stint as Spain’s U19 coach, he was appointed manager of the U21 team in 2018 and has held the position ever since.
During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan, the 61-year-old was also in charge of La Roja. He was the manager of Athletic Bilbao and Alaves before joining the national team.
