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Luis Enrique has left his position as Spain’s national team manager following La Roja’s shock exit at the hands of Morocco in the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar.
Spain started their World Cup 2022 adventure in mesmerising fashion when they put seven goals without reply past a weak Costa Rica outfit, though that superb victory proved the high instead of the starting point for one of the pre-tournament favourites.
The 2010 World Cup winners drew with Germany (1-0) and lost to Japan (2-1) in their final group matches to set up what looked like a gimme against Morocco in the first knockout phase, though Spain failed to take advantage of the kind route offered to them.
Spanish Football Federation call time on Enrique’s tenure
In an official statement released early on Thursday, the Spanish Football Federation said: “The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the senior national team in recent years.
The sports 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 team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and his management.”
🔴 OFICIAL | La @RFEF agradece a @LUISENRIQUE21 su trabajo al frente de la @SEFutbol
🔗 https://t.co/6Cib6cpJ1l#GraciasLuisEnrique pic.twitter.com/wkAIMu2utd
— RFEF (@rfef) December 8, 2022
The former Barcelona boss took the reins in his homeland back in 2018 and led Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 where they were eliminated by eventual champions, Italy.
Already, current Spanish U21 coach Luis de la Fuente has been installed as favourite to replace Luis Enrique, however, any appointment must first be approved by the board, who are scheduled to meet to discuss the role on Monday.
De la Fuente took charge of the Spanish Olympic team at the 2020 games in Japan, where La Roja won a silver medal following a narrow defeat to Brazil in the final. De La Fuente has been involved in the national team set-up since 2013 and has coached the country’s U19, U21 and U23 sides during that period.
How Luis Enrique’s World Cup dream unravelled
Spain’s World Cup exit at the hands of Morocco was a show-stopping outcome, though worrying and foreshadowing signs had started to surface during the group stage for La Roja, particularly in the final third.
While their 7-0 demolition job on Costa Rica on matchday one was an impressive showcase of attacking football, Spain’s forward line looked limp against both Germany and Japan in their follow up fixtures and they failed to find the net in 120 minutes against Morocco in the Round of 16 on Tuesday.
Spain recorded a modest 1.55 xG against the combative Moroccans before missing all three of their penalty kicks in the subsequent shootout.
Spain haven’t won a major international trophy since the European Championship back in 2012 and they haven’t made it past the Round of 16 at a World Cup since they lifted the trophy in 2010.
However, the European heavyweights had been fancied to push their way to the semi-finals in Qatar at least and their unexpected early exit forced the Spanish Football Federation to pull the trigger on Luis Enrique.
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