Luis de la Fuente is way from a family title exterior Spain, however he’s one match away from main his nation to Euro 2024 glory, with England standing in his means.
The Spain boss has been in cost since December 2022 after a nightmare marketing campaign on the Qatar World Cup noticed La Roja eradicated by Morocco within the final 16 beneath Luis Enrique.
He stepped up from managing Spain groups at varied age ranges, however had no expertise of taking cost of sides on the elite degree both internationally or with golf equipment.
Observe Metro.co.uk’s stay weblog for protection of England vs Spain within the Euro 2024 remaining
Nonetheless, regardless of there being vital scepticism surrounding his appointment, De la Fuente has completed brilliantly along with his squad and Spain have turn into the primary group in males’s Euros historical past to win six matches in a single match.
After beating the likes of Italy, Germany and France already, the Spaniards are favourites to down England in Berlin on Sunday and win the Euros for a fourth time.
It might be the celebrities of the group like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Rodri and Dani Olmo however De la Fuente is the person masterminding the success.
Right here’s how the 63-year-old, considerably unexpectedly, rose to the highest job in Spain.
De la Fuente’s taking part in profession
The left-back, typically deployed as a left winger, performed the vast majority of his profession at Athletic Bilbao, the place he got here by way of the youth ranks and made his skilled debut.
De la Fuente received La Liga in 1983 and ’84 with Athletic, finishing a outstanding double by profitable the Copa del Rey as effectively in ’84.
He moved on to hitch Sevilla in 1987, returned to Bilbao in 1991 after which completed his profession at Alaves in 1994.
A really strong profession on the high of the Spanish home sport, however De la Fuente by no means received a cap for his nation’s senior group. He did play for Spain under-21s.
Early forays into administration
De la Fuente first took a managerial job in 1997 with small Basque aspect Portugalete, then moved on to Aurrera Vitoria, however cast his status at the next degree with Sevilla after which again at Athletic Bilbao, managing the youth and reserve groups.
He took the possibility to go away Athletic reserves and step as much as be a senior supervisor in 2011 at Alaves however lasted simply 11 video games earlier than being dismissed.
Spain youth group success
After a break from teaching De la Fuente took cost of Spain under-19s in 2013 and remained in that position for 5 years earlier than taking on the under-21s.
It was success with these groups that has seen him take the highest job, as he received the European Beneath-19 Championship in 2015 after which the European Beneath-21 Championship in 2019.
Gamers who De la Fuente managed at youth degree have impressed throughout Euro 2024 beneath him, with Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz scoring the targets within the remaining of the Beneath-21 Euros in 2019 and excelling this summer season at senior degree.
Shining with Spain senior aspect
De la Fuente was appointed Spain boss in December 2022 and regardless of some followers not being satisfied by his CV, the outcomes have been incredible.
20 matches in cost have yielded 16 wins, two attracts and two defeats, with six victories at Euro 2024 to this point.
There was an early wobble throughout his tenure, when Spain misplaced at Scotland in Euro 2024 qualifying, however issues have improved since then.
He has already lifted silverware after profitable the UEFA Nations League final 12 months, beating Croatia on penalties within the remaining after downing Italy within the semis.
Rubiales controversy
Whereas the outcomes have been spectacular there have been requires De la Fuente to resign final 12 months after he applauded a controversial speech from shamed former president of the Spanish Soccer Federation Luis Rubiales.
Rubiales kissed Spain participant Jennifer Hermoso in opposition to her will as she was accumulating her medal after profitable the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup, one thing he was later punished for.
Extra Trending
Learn Extra Tales
Nonetheless, shortly after the notorious incident, Rubiales gave a speech by which he shouted repeatedly that he wouldn’t resign and would ‘combat till the tip’ to maintain his job.
De la Fuente was within the viewers and enthusiastically applauded the speech, resulting in heavy criticism.
The supervisor apologised, saying: ‘What I did is unjustifiable. What I’m making an attempt to reveal is the context. I used to be overwhelmed, I didn’t know how you can stay as much as it and I couldn’t management my feelings.
‘Once you later mirror and see your self on cameras… I don’t acknowledge myself. Contained in the forest one sees nothing however branches and when one separates from the forest one sees the true scenario.’
For extra tales like this, test our sport web page.
Observe Metro Sport for the most recent information on
Fb, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE : England’s penalty file forward of Euro 2024 remaining in opposition to Spain
MORE : What number of targets has Harry Kane scored for England? Three Lions file in full
MORE : England followers pack out streets of London and Berlin for Euro 2024 remaining
