Spain sacked coach Luis Enrique on Thursday after the 2010 champions have been dumped out of the World Cup by Morocco on the last-16 stage, shortly naming his substitute as under-21s boss Luis de la Fuente. Spain began their marketing campaign in Qatar in fashion by hammering Costa Rica 7-0 and certified for the knockout section regardless of a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan. They have been robust favourites for his or her last-16 match in opposition to Morocco however crashed out on penalties after the sport completed goalless following extra-time.

“Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sporting director, Jose Francisco Molina, have told the coach their decision,” the RFEF (soccer affiliation) mentioned in an announcement.

They mentioned they wished to thank Luis Enrique and his workers for his or her work, however had determined to begin a “new project”.

Shortly afterwards, the federation introduced that De la Fuente, who led Spain’s males’s crew to the silver medal finally 12 months’s Olympics, was the brand new man within the hotseat.

Luis Enrique had mentioned he wished to remain on as coach after the defeat by Morocco on Tuesday.

“I am very happy with the Spanish FA, the president and with (the sporting director),” he mentioned.

“If it was up to me I would stay all my life, but that is not the case. I have to think calmly what is the best for me and for the national team.”

Spain final lifted a significant trophy a decade in the past at Euro 2012, whereas they haven’t received a single knockout sport on the Word Cup since triumphing in South Africa in 2010.

– New venture –
Luis Enrique took over in 2018 after Spain’s disappointing exhibiting on the World Cup in Russia, and led La Roja to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, the place they have been additionally crushed on penalties, by Italy.

His time as Spain coach was characterised by a agency dedication to sustaining possession.

They tried greater than 1,000 passes in opposition to Morocco however ended up with nothing to indicate for it, forcing Yassine Bounou into just one save earlier than the shootout.

“We dominated the game but we lacked a goal,” lamented Luis Enrique. “We could have been more effective in the final third, but I am more than satisfied with what my players did.

“They represented completely what my concept of soccer is.”

The RFEF announced De la Fuente as Luis Enrique’s replacement and his appointment will be ratified next week by the federation’s board of directors.

“The new coach will make his debut in March for Euro 2024 qualifiers, taking cost of his first video games in opposition to Norway and Scotland,” said the RFEF in a statement.

De la Fuente will be officially presented on Monday as the coach.

The 61-year-old is a coach who also likes his team to keep hold of the ball, but is more flexible than his predecessor and willing to try other strategies when necessary.

Many of the young players in the Spain World Cup squad previously played for De la Fuente at youth level.

Last year De la Fuente coached the Spain national team in a friendly against Lithuania, using U21 players, as the first team squad and staff were forced to quarantine after one positive Covid case, as protocol demanded at the time.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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