Luis de la Fuente succeeds Luis Enrique as Spain’s head coach after disappointing 2022 FIFA World Cup exit


Luis de la Fuente succeeds Luis Enrique as Spain’s head coach after disappointing 2022 FIFA World Cup exit

Luis de la Fuente becomes Spain's new manager following Enrique exit

Luis Enrique stepped down as Spain’s coach after the team was eliminated in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup by Morocco. La Roja’s campaign was ended on penalties by the Atlas Lions, after they had advanced through a group that included Costa Rica, Germany, and Japan.

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On Thursday, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) released a statement lauding Luis Enrique for his job. “Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, Jose Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to [Luis Enrique]. The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects.”

Luis de la Fuente has been appointed Spain’s manager, immediately after Luis Enrique was dismissed having followed the group’s elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Spanish football federation announced the appointment of its under-21s manager two days after Spain was eliminated in the last-16 stage of the World Cup in Qatar by Morocco.

De la Fuente, 61, entered the RFEF in 2013 as the under-15 manager. He has previously collaborated with Spanish young players such as Marco Asensio, goalkeeper Unai Simon, Eric Garcia, Pau Torres, Pedri, Carlos Soler, and Dani Olmo.

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Luis Enrique’s exit from Spain following disastrous performance at 2022 FIFA World Cup

Morocco win against Spain

Following an underwhelming 2022 FIFA World Cup performance, Luis Enrique’s tenure as Spain’s boss finally came to an end. La Roja began with a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica but was eliminated on penalties by Morocco in the last-16 stage.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has declared that Luis Enrique has been dismissed as manager. “The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff for their outstanding leadership of the absolute national team in recent years,” a statement said.

Spain was defeated by Morocco following a devastating penalty shoot-out in which Luis Enrique’s squad failed to score a single spot-kick, resulting in a 3-0 destruction after a 0-0 tie after extra time. Spain was anticipated to advance far in the tournament but only made it to the quarterfinals.

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