Who is Spain manager? Luis de la Fuente clubs coached, record and playing style
After a disappointing 2022 World Cup season, Spain has now gone over a decade without winning a title.
La Roja was going through a period of transition, with experienced legends giving way to promising young talent.
Spain’s latest appointment isn’t exactly a household name across Europe but could make a lot of sense for a young La Roja side.
The Sporting News shares everything you wanted to know about the new face in Spain’s dugout, with Luis de la Fuente as manager.
MORE: Euro 2024 date, schedule
Who is Spain’s new manager?
Luis de la Fuente was confirmed as Spain’s new manager on December 8, 2022, just days after Enrique’s departure.
The 61-year-old has been given a contract until the end of Euro 2024 with an option to extend it beyond that.
De la Fuente is a former defender who played exclusively in Spain for teams such as Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Alaves.
The former Spain youth international joined the managerial team in 1997, three years after hanging up his football boots. He got his first job at Portugalete in the lower Spanish leagues.
By 2006, De la Fuente returned to his former club Athletic Bilbao as reserve team coach.
After a brief and disappointing stint at Alaves in 2011, he made his move to international football when he was appointed coach of Spain U19 side.
De la Fuente would win the 2015 European Championship with this side before clinching another continental title in 2019 with the under-21 side.
The Spaniard also led Spain’s recent Olympic campaign, which saw his team take a silver medal in Tokyo after losing to Brazil in the final.
Record by Luis de la Fuente
De la Fuente has had success with Spain’s youth teams and hopes to replicate that at senior level.
| matches | wins | draws | losses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain U23 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Spain U21 | 42 | 34 | 4 | 4 |
| Spain U19 | 41 | 28 | 5 | 8th |
| Spain U18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Alaves | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Athletic Bilbao Reserves | 82 | 22 | 30 | 30 |
Luis de la Fuente style of play, tactics
De la Fuente has previously favored an attacking style of football with a 4-3-3 formation most commonly used.
It was reported by Relevo that De la Fuente wants to use a 4-2-3-1 formation initially as he looks to use Gavi in the same way as at Barcelona.
The 61-year-old has been quick to impress the Spanish players since his appointment with his calm approach and clear ideas that have ensured a smooth transition so far.
Spain’s new manager is known for the relationship he develops with his players. Dani Ceballos is full of praise and reveals he was forced to make amends with Gavi after a recent El Clasico defeat.
“He has very clear ideas about how to play. It will be very similar to what we did in the youth teams,” Ceballos told Marca when asked about De la Fuente.
“It’s more vertical football. He likes it when players work hard. And that there is respect and education – something fundamental for him.
“The coach was aware that we (Ceballos and Gavi) had our ups and downs. He told us to talk about it and we did.
“We talked about it. Everything that happens on the pitch stays there. We have to go in the same direction. If the good atmosphere and good vibes don’t work, I won’t run for him and he won’t.” run for me That needs to be put aside.”