Spain Impress En Route to Euro 2024 Final, Manager Luis de la Fuente Praised

Spain have earned widespread admiration for their performances in the run-up to the Euro 2024 final. La Roja have showcased their attacking prowess, scoring 13 goals in six matches.

Emerging Stars Shine Bright

Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old prodigy, has been the star of the tournament, with his sensational goal against France in the semi-final being a standout moment. Nico Williams on the opposite flank has also been equally impressive.

Dani Olmo and Rodri have also caught the eye in a team set up to play an attacking brand of football. However, the man quietly orchestrating Spain’s success from the touchline, manager Luis de la Fuente, remains a relative unknown to many.

The Unsung Architect: Luis de la Fuente

“We try to play nice football, but we want to play practical football too because what you will analyse later and assess later is the result.”

• Luis de la Fuente

At 63 years old, de la Fuente has been around the block. He enjoyed a solid playing career as a full-back in the 1980s, representing Athletic Club and Sevilla before a brief stint with Alaves. Despite never earning a senior cap for Spain as a player, he has more than made up for it as a manager.

De la Fuente’s coaching career began in 1997 with Portugalete, a small Basque side playing in Spain’s regional divisions. After three years there, he moved on to another Basque outfit, Aurrera, before joining Sevilla’s academy for four years. He then took up a role at Athletic Club before his only high-profile managerial job prior to the national team – a three-month stint at Alaves in 2011.

Two years later, de la Fuente took charge of the Spain Under-19 team, proving adept enough to spend five years in the role. Subsequent spells with the U21s and U23s paved the way for his promotion to the Spain senior team in 2022 after Luis Enrique’s resignation following a disappointing World Cup exit to Morocco.

De la Fuente has thrived as Spain’s head coach, making the most of his ability to nurture young talent by bringing through the likes of Yamal and Williams. His possession-based principles are not dissimilar to previous Spanish managers, but there is a renewed energy and pace about the team.

Spain’s journey to the final has been an impressive one, and their manager, Luis de la Fuente, is quietly orchestrating their success, proving his worth as a tactician and developer of young talent.

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