Luis Enrique leaves Spain job with Luis de la Fuente set to replace him

Luis Enrique has left his post as Spain manager after the side’s World Cup last-16 exit to Morocco, with the national team’s under-21 coach, Luis de la Fuente, to replace him.

The Spanish FA (RFEF) issued a statement on Thursday thanking Luis Enrique for his service and expressing its desire to start “a new project” for the national team. A subsequent statement added: “The RFEF has chosen Luis de la Fuente as the new national coach.

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“The sporting management of the RFEF has handed to the president a report in which it is determined a new project should start for the Spain national team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work of Luis Enrique and his coaches.

“Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, Jose Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to [Luis Enrique]. The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects.”

Luis de la Fuente at the Tokyo Olympics, where he led Spain to the silver medal. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

De La Fuente’s appointment is set to be confirmed next Monday, 12 December, in a meeting of the RFEF’s board of directors. The 61-year-old has previously managed Spain’s youth sides at under-19 and under-21 level.

Luis Enrique became the Spain manager after the team’s exit from the 2018 World Cup in Russia and led the team to the Euro 2020 semi-finals. The 52-year-old accepted the blame for Spain’s defeat to Morocco in a penalty shootout on Tuesday.

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