Luis Enrique was changed by Luis de la Fuente as Spain’s coach on Thursday, two days after the nationwide workforce was eradicated within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup.
Spain misplaced to Morocco 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless attract common and further time.
The Spanish soccer federation thanked Luis Enrique, however mentioned it was time to “begin a brand new challenge” to maintain the expansion achieved by the coach lately. It mentioned the change was made after a advice by its sporting officers.
The 61-year-old De la Fuente, a former left again with Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao, helped Spain’s under-19 squad win the European Championship in 2015, and the under-21 workforce win Euro 2019. He additionally coached Spain’s squad, which gained a silver medal on the Tokyo Olympic Video games.
De la Fuente had coached the senior nationwide workforce as soon as, when youth gamers have been utilized in a pleasant in opposition to Lithuania as a result of the principle squad had to enter isolation due to the coronavirus.
Different candidates who had been thought of in addition to De la Fuente, who was Spain’s under-21 coach, included former Belgium supervisor Roberto Martínez and former Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelino García Toral.
Spain obtained off to an excellent begin in Qatar, routing Costa Rica 7-0, however La Roja couldn’t win once more in its final three matches. It drew 1-1 with Germany and misplaced 2-1 to Japan earlier than being held by Morocco.
Luis Enrique took over the nationwide workforce in 2018 to begin revamping the squad after its elimination within the spherical of 16 of the World Cup in Russia. He quickly left due to the sickness and eventual dying of his younger daughter, however returned in 2019.
He helped Spain attain the final 4 of the Nations League twice, together with this season and final 12 months, when it misplaced the ultimate to France.
He additionally led Spain to the semifinals of the European Championship final 12 months, dropping to Italy in a penalty shootout.
Luis Enrique’s contract ended after the World Cup. The previous Barcelona participant and coach had mentioned moments after the loss to Morocco that he would take a while to relaxation earlier than beginning talks with the federation about his future. He mentioned he would have appreciated to stick with the nationwide workforce “ceaselessly,” however knew that it may not be potential.
The 52-year-old Luis Enrique, not way back seen as one of the crucial uptight coaches in soccer, had opened up on the World Cup, doing streaming periods, occurring bicycle rides and speaking frankly about controversial points.
The workforce’s elimination in Qatar raised extra questions on whether or not Spain ought to begin overhauling its soccer philosophy and eliminate the “tiki-taka” ball-possession fashion that has not produced outcomes just lately. Luis Enrique had mentioned he wasn’t planning to relinquish the “tiki-taka” if he remained as coach, and De la Fuente is also prone to maintain it alive.
De la Fuente is anticipated to make his debut with the senior workforce when Spain resumes taking part in in qualifying for Euro 2024 in March next year.