Royal Spanish Football Federation has announced a replacement of Luis Enrique after a disappointing elimination at 22nd World Cup edition. Spain under-21 coach Luis de la Fuente will take charge of the senior team.
Spain suffered a shock 3-0 defeat on penalties against North African country Morocco at Education City stadium. The 2010 World Cup winners created a lot of chances during the match but the match ended in goalless stalemate after 120 minutes.
The Spanish Federation released a statement thanking Luis Enrique for the job he has done since he took over four years ago.
“The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff,” read the RFEF statement.
“The sports management of the RFEF has transferred to the president a report in which it is determined that a new project should start for the Spanish team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and his collaborators.
“Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, Jose Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to the coach.
Enrique managed to give a new impetus to the national team since his arrival in 2018 through profound renovation that has consolidated a generational change in the team and in Spanish.
“Luis qualified for the final four of the UEFA Nations League twice and reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020, with his own stamp and through defined style. He opted for young talent and has sown hope for the future of the Spanish team.
“The RFEF energetically wishes Luis and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects. The coach earns the love and admiration of his collaborators in the national team and of the entire federation, which will always be his home.”
Former Barcelona manager was in charge of 44 matches since he took over for Spain in 2018. Enrique registered 24 wins, drew 11 matches and lost nine.
His successor has spent nine years as a head coach of Spain national team youth set-up. De la Fuente have led Spain to a silver medal in Olympics Games in Tokyo in 2021. His first games will be Euro 2024 qualifiers against Norway and Scotland next year in March.
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