Spain have confirmed that former U21 coach Luis de la Fuente will succeed Luis Enrique as national team manager.
Enrique was dismissed of his role as Spain boss on Thursday morning after the national side’s terrible World Cup campaign saw them get eliminated by Morocco in the last-16.
The disappointment came just days ago but the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been quick to confirm Enrique’s sacking and de la Fuente’s appointment.
In a statement, the RFEF wrote: ‘The RFEF has chosen Luis de la Fuente as the new absolute national coach.
‘The sports director, José Francisco Molina, has forwarded a report to the president, Luis Rubiales, in which he recommends the choice of the coach from La Rioja, until now the U-21 coach, to lead the new stage that begins after the World Cup in Qatar.’
De le Fuente has been part of the national coaching staff for nine years after first taking charge of the U19 side in 2013.
He became the U21 coach in 2018 and won the UEFA European Under-21 Championships a year later after a 2-1 final win over Germany.
In June 2021, de le Fuente and his U21 side filled in for the senior squad after they went into isolation following Sergio Busquets’ positive COVID-19 test.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the news that Luis Enrique had been sacked in a post on their social media account on Thursday morning.
A statement from Spain’s football federation said: ‘The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the absolute national team in recent years.
‘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 Soccer Team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and their collaborators.
‘Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, Jose Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to the coach.’
They added: ‘The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique 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.’
Spain announced de la Fuente’s appointment almost immediately after Enrique’s sacking but there were a couple other managers on their shortlist.
Former Everton and Belgium national team coach Roberto Martinez was one option tipped to take over the Spain position.
Martinez stepped down as manager of the Red Devils after they crashed out in the group stages of the competition in Qatar. (DailyMail)