Coach Luís Enrique, who left the role of Spanish soccer coach, on Thursday asked for support for his successor, regretting not having been able to take the team further during his tenure.
“It’s time to say goodbye. The team needs support so that Luis de la Fuente [novo selecionador] achieve everything you want and want. It all started four years ago and how quickly time has passed. I can only thank those who hired me immensely”, reads a letter published by Luís Enrique on social networks.
The 52-year-old coach came to the red in July 2018, when he replaced Fernando Hierro, in an experience that was interrupted for five months, due to family problems, in 2019.
In the 2022 World Cup, which was held in Qatar, Spain was eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16, after a 0-0 draw in regulation time and extra time, undone by penalties (3-0).
“The players were exemplary in their behavior and faithful to the idea of the game planted. My coaching staff and I regret not having been able to help more and take the team further”, Enrique confessed, saying goodbye thanks to his assistants, as well as to all the ‘staff’ of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The former Spanish international also praised the “support of the fans at all times, especially in the most delicate ones”.
“Come on, Spain! Goodbye. Thank you,” he concluded.
The Asturian, who has coached the FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona B, Roma and Celta de Vigo teams, led the Spanish team to two ‘final four’ of the League of Nations, after losing the final against France in 2021 , and the semifinals-finals of Euro2020, when they ‘fell’ to Italy, 4-2 on penalties, after the 1-1 draw.
Luis de la Fuente, until now U-21 coach, will take charge of the senior team after almost a decade in the RFEF.
The 61-year-old coach has been part of the federation squad since 2013, after starting his career as a coach at the Athletic Bilbao B and B team, having won the European under-19 titles in 2015 and under-21 titles in 2019.
Source: TSF
