Luis de la Fuente becomes the fifth coach since the arrival of the Granada leader to the presidency of the FEF
When Luis Rubiales took office in 2018 after the tumultuous fall of Ángel María Villar, continuity, the commitment to long-term thinking seemed to be the chosen policy for a new phase in the Federation. In this line, the leader from Motril did not look for a new coach when he took office and relied on the football idea of Julen Lopetegui, who had led the team for two years; He even extended his contract until the last Euro Cup in 2020. Four years later, after Spain’s early elimination at the World Cup in Qatar and the corresponding farewell to Luis Enrique, Luis de la Fuente is, however, the fifth absolute coach since the dismissal . from Lopetegui.
It was precisely the devastating dismissal of the Basque coach that set the starting point in the maelstrom on the national bench. The happy and pre-pandemic 2018 summer began and the illusion for a Spanish team that had signed a great qualifying stage for the World Cup in Russia was felt in the streets. Spain, after the disappointments of Brazil 2014 and France 2016 in Vicente del Bosque’s long and gray decline, had finally subscribed to modern football. However, as you know, on the eve of the start of the World Cup, Real Madrid confirmed Lopetegui as their new coach. The FEF’s immediate response was to fire him and, as a stopgap, replace him with a Fernando Hierro who was the team’s sports director at the time. The Malaga patch ended with Spain knocked out in the round of 16 (and on penalties) by hosts Russia.
After the disappointment at the World Cup, a new period of prosperity and confidence followed with the recruitment of Luis Enrique. With the horizon of Euro 2020, the team experienced a wonderful phase of good football, transparency and innovation in the treatment of the youngest fans (such as the audiovisual selection lists). In addition, the relationship between the man from Gijón and the then captain Sergio Ramos seemed healthy and optimal, a bond that had repercussions on the rest of the group.
But in March 2019, the Asturian pushed football into the background for family reasons. In his place, his assistant coach and then a trusted man Robert Moreno took over the reins of the national team on an interim basis. The players adapted correctly to the change and Spain qualified for the Eurocup almost unscathed. Likewise, despite Moreno’s desire to remain in command until the continental tournament, the Federation waited for Luis Enrique, who returned to office in November of that same year.
A justifying Eurocup during his stay on the bench predicted a good role in Qatar that was ultimately not fulfilled. A Spain, who had once again won the affection and courage of the average fan, went off again in the round of 16 (and on penalties), ending the ex-Barcelona player’s podium. Now comes Luis de la Fuente, so far coach of the under-21, who becomes the fifth coach in four years.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
