July 14th 2024.
The name Luis de la Fuente may not be well-known outside of Spain, but he is on the brink of leading his country to victory in Euro 2024. As the current coach, he has been in charge since December 2022, taking over after Spain's disappointing performance in the Qatar World Cup. This came as a surprise to many, as De la Fuente had limited experience managing at the elite level, both internationally and with clubs. However, he has proven his critics wrong and has done an exceptional job with his team. In fact, Spain has made history by becoming the first men's Euros team to win six matches in a single tournament. And with victories over top teams like Italy, Germany, and France, they are now favored to defeat England in the final and secure their fourth Euro title.
While the spotlight may be on the players like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Rodri, and Dani Olmo, it is De la Fuente who is the mastermind behind Spain's success. But how did this 63-year-old coach rise to the top of his profession? Let's take a closer look at his journey.
De la Fuente's career as a player began at Athletic Bilbao, where he rose through the ranks and made his professional debut. He was part of the team that won La Liga in 1983 and 1984, as well as the Copa del Rey in '84. He then went on to play for Sevilla, returned to Bilbao, and finished his career with Alaves. Although he had a solid career in the Spanish domestic league, he never earned a cap for the national team. However, he did play for the under-21 team.
After retiring as a player, De la Fuente embarked on his coaching career in 1997 with Portugalete, a small Basque club. He then moved on to Aurrera Vitoria before making a name for himself at the senior level with Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao. In 2011, he took on his first senior coaching job at Alaves, but it was short-lived as he was dismissed after just 11 games. However, it was his success with the Spanish youth teams that caught the attention of the national federation.
De la Fuente took charge of the under-19 team in 2013 and remained in that role for five years before moving on to the under-21s. It was during this time that he led Spain to victory in the European Under-19 Championship in 2015 and the European Under-21 Championship in 2019. His success with these teams paved the way for his current position as the head coach of the Spanish national team.
Despite initial doubts about his qualifications, De la Fuente has proven himself as a capable coach. In his 20 matches in charge, he has an impressive record of 16 wins, two draws, and only two losses. This includes six wins in the current Euro 2024 tournament. While there were some early struggles, such as a loss to Scotland in qualifying, his team has bounced back and even won the UEFA Nations League last year.
However, De la Fuente's tenure has not been without controversy. Last year, he faced calls to resign after applauding a controversial speech from former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales. Rubiales had been banned from all football activities for forcibly kissing Spain player Jennifer Hermoso during the 2023 Women's World Cup. In his speech, he defiantly declared that he would not resign and would fight to keep his job. De la Fuente was caught up in the moment and enthusiastically applauded, which drew criticism. He later apologized, admitting that his behavior was unjustifiable and that he was caught up in the emotions of the moment.
Despite this incident, De la Fuente has continued to lead his team with determination and focus. As they prepare to face England in the Euro 2024 final, all eyes will be on him to see if he can guide Spain to yet another victory.
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