On December 8, 2022, Luis Enrique announced that he was stepping down as the head coach of the Spain national team. This decision comes after a difficult year for Enrique, both professionally and personally.
Enrique took over as head coach of the Spanish national team in July 2018, following a successful spell at Barcelona where he won the treble in his first season in charge. He was tasked with reviving a struggling Spanish side that had failed to make an impact at the 2018 World Cup.
In his first year in charge, Enrique guided Spain to the Nations League semifinals and the round of 16 of the 2019 European Championship. However, the team failed to progress further and was eliminated by eventual champions Portugal.
Despite this disappointment, Enrique remained committed to the job and continued to work hard to improve the team. However, his efforts were hampered by a series of off-field issues, including the death of his daughter Xana in August 2019.
Enrique took a break from his duties to grieve and spend time with his family, but he returned to the team in November 2019 and continued to lead them with passion and determination.
Despite his best efforts, the team struggled to find its form and had mixed results in the qualifying rounds for the 2022 World Cup. This ultimately led to Enrique’s decision to step down from his role as head coach.
In a statement, Enrique said: “It has been an honor to lead the Spain national team and I am proud of what we have achieved together. However, after careful consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to step down and allow someone else to take the reins. I want to thank the players, staff, and fans for their support and I wish the team the best of luck in the future.”
Enrique’s departure will come as a disappointment to many fans of the Spain national team, who had high hopes for his leadership. In his place, the Spanish Football Federation has appointed Luis de la Fuente as the new head coach. De la Fuente is no stranger to the Spanish National Team setup, having previously been the manager of the U21 team.
During Enrique’s tenure as head coach, he led the Spanish team to a second place finish in the 2019 UEFA Nations League. He also guided the team to victories in the 2017 and 2019 editions of the King’s Cup.
Despite his success with the team, Enrique’s time as head coach was not without controversy. In November 2019, he was heavily criticized for his decision to omit midfielder Sergio Busquets from the starting lineup in a crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Romania.
De la Fuente, on the other hand, has a proven track record of success with the U21 team. He led the team to a runner-up finish in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and has been praised for his ability to develop young talent.
As the new head coach of the Spain National Team, De la Fuente will be tasked with leading the team in their Euro 2020 campaign, which is set to begin in June of this year. He will also be responsible for building a team capable of competing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The appointment of De la Fuente as head coach represents a new era for the Spain National Team. With his experience and success at the U21 level, he will be expected to continue the team’s tradition of success and bring a fresh perspective to the squad.
Image Credit: Football Espana
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