After the knockout round at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Spanish Football Association parted ways with national coach Luis Enrique and sports director Jose Francisco Molina. Both successors have already been determined.
The “RFEF” thanked this on its homepage. The association thanked Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff for their work, but intends to use new impetus in the future.
Association president Luis Rubiales and sports director Jose Francisco Molina informed the 52-year-old of the decision. A “new project for the Spanish national team should be launched” that builds on the work of Enrique and his staff, according to a press release.
Luis Enrique takes responsibility for early exit
Luis Enrique himself had kept his future open after beating African outsiders Morocco on penalties 3-0. “This is not the time to talk about it. I want to go home and see my people“, he said, but at the same time took responsibility for the early failure: “If anyone is responsible for this, it’s me.” Luis Enrique had been Spain’s coach since 2018, with an eight-month hiatus.
De la Fuente takes over
De la Fuente, who has been in charge of young talent selections for the association since 2013, has yet to be officially confirmed by the committees. He is then scheduled to make his first appearances in a new role in March in the qualifiers for EURO 2024 in Germany against Norway and Scotland.
Molina also throws down
In the evening it also became known that Spain’s sports director Jose Francisco Molina was also giving up. The Spanish association announced that he would not extend his expiring contract. His successor will be former Spain international Albert Luque. This, in cooperation with new coach Luis de la Fuente, should lead Spain back to a title.