Luis Enrique has stepped down as head coach of Spain’s senior men’s national team after their exit in the round of 16 of Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The 2010 World Cup winners lost 3-0 to Morocco on penalties after 120 minutes of football ended goalless.
And following the team’s ouster, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced that Enrique will no longer be in charge of the national team.
“The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the national team in recent years.
“The management of the RFEF has transferred to the president a report in which it is determined that a new project should start for the Spanish Soccer Team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and his coaching crew. Both the president, Luis Rubiales and the sports director, José Francisco Molina have informed decision to the coach.
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“The Asturian coach managed to give a new impetus to the national team since his arrival, in 2018, through a profound renovation that has consolidated a generational change in the team and in Spanish football.
“Luis Enrique qualified for two Final Four of the UEFA Nations League, of the three he played as coach; and he reached the semifinals of Euro 2020 with his own stamp and through a defined style. He opted for young talent and has sown hope for the future of the Spanish team.
“The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects. The coach earns the love and admiration in the national team and of the entire Federation, which will always be his home.”
Enrique represented Spain in three FIFA World Cups: USA 1994, France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002.
7 Comments
Again, this is very normal. Anywhere in the world, after calamitous failure, people resign, step down, hang it up, step aside, whatever you want to call it.
Unlike in Nigeria, were football people fail and expect to keep their jobs, or even get rewarded!
Luis Enrique failed. He had shown so much promise prior to the world cup. But things did not work out in the end.
He has done the right thing by exiting the stage, so someone else can give it a try.
You are correct, it is the norm, but for us our inferiority complex and greed would not let it happen until it is too late. Rohr should have been fired after the Russia world cup but he said he had a young team and Pinnick because of greed let him stay. Spain is not going to hire another coach from a foreign country, it would definitely be another Spaniard. That is what countries with self confidence do.
Spain will hire whoever they feel is best for the job currently. Recall that Barcelona hired foreigners to coach their team in the past. Johan Cruyff, Luis Van Gaal, Frank Rijkaard, and Bobby Robson were all foreigners are a few names that come to mind. Real Madrid from time to time also hires foreigners to coach their team. Zidane who won them 3 Champions League trophies is not a Spaniard. They will never insist on hiring only Spaniards. England once hired a Swede Sven Goran Erickson to handle the 3 Lions. Belgium hired a Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who although he failed in the 2022 world cup, he did succeed in the 2018 edition, leading them to a bronze medal.
Nigeria should go for the best coach within budget. A Nigerian would be nice, but we can’t afford to insist on a Nigerian if he/she is not good enough, or if there are much better alternatives.
NFF must exploit this opportunity to hire Luis Enrique as Super Eagles coach that means NFF must abrogate Peseiro contract as a bad foriegn coach for SE or if NFF can’t hire Enrique they ought to hire France veteran coach Rimond Domenech .
Shut up, If he is not good enough for Spain why should he be good enough for us?, he failed with Spain, why do you think he would be successful with Nigeria, we have many ex internationals like him in Nigeria.
The fact that he failed in Spain does not mean he’ll necessarily fail in Nigeria. But that, strictly, is beside the point. We should consult broadly and determine the radical steps to transform our football. There are many issues: coaching crew and remuneration, players selection and payment of bonuses, development of structures, government and private sector support etc. The issue of not paying coaches is particularly appalling.
Very soon Nigeria will slip some ten places in the FIFA ranking, worsening our fortunes. The prize for foolishness, planlessness, and greed.
What right have you to ask another man to shut up while making a point. You need to grow up, bro.