World Cup 2022: Luis Enrique, the Spain manager, will be dismissed following the last-16 loss
After Spain was eliminated from the World Cup by Morocco in the round of 16, Luis Enrique resigned as manager of the national team.
After taking over in 2018, the 52-year-old led Spain to the Euro 2020 semifinals, where they were defeated by Italy.
The Spanish Football Federation commented, “We would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching group” (RFEF).
Luis de la Fuente, the coach of Spain’s Under-21 team, has been suggested for the position; however, the board, which meets on Monday, must ratify his hiring.
Spain defeated Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening group game in Qatar, but after drawing 1-1 with Germany and losing 2-1 to Japan, critics criticized their possession-based style of play as “boring” football.
After a goalless 120 minutes, Morocco eliminated them from the competition on penalties.
In their era of dominance between 2008 and 2012, when they won two consecutive European Championships either side of their first World Cup, Luis Aragones and Vicente del Bosque won praise for their style and helped Spain establish themselves as the top nation in the world.
But after being named European champions in 2012, they have yet to take home a significant trophy.
And after their victory in the 2010 World Cup, they haven’t advanced past the round of 16.
At the club level, Luis Enrique’s time as manager of Barcelona was his most prosperous. He led them to two La Liga championships, three Copa del Reys, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup between 2014 and 2017. He also won the Champions League during that time.
After Spain’s chaotic World Cup campaign in 2018, he was appointed manager. He succeeded Fernando Hierro, who had taken over two days earlier after Julen Lopetegui was fired for saying he would take over at Real Madrid after the tournament.
Since 2013, De la Fuente has served as a member of the Spanish coaching staff and has coached their minor squads.
At the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020, he guided Spain to a silver medal.
