Luis Enrique

Spain suffered a disappointing last-16 exit at the World Cup after losing to Morocco on penalties on Tuesday.

It concluded: "The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects." Enrique was unwilling to discuss the situation after Tuesday's loss in Qatar but the indicators were it seemed a logical juncture for a parting of the ways. The first statement read: "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.

He was first appointed Spain coach in 2018 and had a contract until the end of the year.

Luis Enrique, who was first appointed Spain coach in 2018, had a contract until the end of the year. The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff for the work done in the last few years.” Luis Enrique was sacked as Spain coach on Thursday after the team’s elimination in the last-16 at the World Cup with the country’s under-21 manager Luis de la Fuente named as his replacement by the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

Spain announced the departure of Luis Enrique as coach of the national team following the team's shock defeat to Morocco at the World Cup.

The Spanish FA added in their statement: "The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects. [7-0](/football/report?gameId=633798) demolition of [Costa Rica](/football/team?id=214), the country's biggest ever World Cup win. He renewed the blood of the National Team with players under 20 years of age and reunited everyone around the Spain team." Luis Enrique had said in the aftermath of Tuesday's loss to Morocco after a goalless draw that he would discuss his future with Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales next week. He also said the national team needed "support" to allow De la Fuente to succeed while in charge of Spain. "The RFEF has chosen Luis de la Fuente as the new national coach. "It's time to say goodbye and in these cases just a small reflection... The Spanish FA announced that Luis Enrique would be replaced by Spain under-21 manager Luis de la Fuente. The announcement of Luis Enrique's departure comes as no surprise. We will speak with him after the World Cup to assess the work that is being done and he will have complete freedom if he wants to leave. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you more. [Spain](/football/team?id=164) announced the departure of Luis Enrique as coach of the national team on Thursday following the team's [shock penalty shootout defeat](/football/report?gameId=633841) on Tuesday to [Morocco](/football/team?id=2869) in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, and his replacement was named.

Luis de la Fuente to lead national football team after defeat to Morocco in the round of 16 of tournament in Qatar.

Enrique had said he was not planning to relinquish the “tiki-taka” if he remained as a coach, and de la Fuente also is likely to keep it alive. The 52-year-old’s contract had been due to end after the World Cup. He temporarily left because of the illness and eventual death of his young daughter but returned in 2019.

Luis Enrique has left his post as Spain manager after their World Cup exit, with the under-21s coach, Luis de la Fuente, to replace him.

This “idea” had previously driven a young Spain side to within a penalty kick of the Euro 2020 final, and brought qualification for two Nations League final ...

[Nico Williams](https://theathletic.com/football/player/nico-williams-3ww4cGhbJ5lTcHqH/) and [Alejandro Balde](https://theathletic.com/football/player/alejandro-balde-8v0WQV7fSHX3uugz/), lack the experience to really question their boss. Directly following the elimination by Morocco, there was a contrasting view discussed at the highest levels of the federation that the team had not progressed at all in four years. No member of the team said they had adopted the wrong approach or tactics, just that the idea they had for the game had not worked out as expected. Some voices close to players say the problem is not so much the style of play as the lack of leaders or experienced characters who would take initiative themselves and not just pass it on. None of Enrique’s top-three takers — Sarabia, [Carlos Soler](https://theathletic.com/football/player/carlos-soler-ajYYZrGjt22WZoVa/) and Busquets — were able to score from the spot. “In the end, the attitude was 10 out of 10 by all the team, not just today, every week, every day. The Asturian had clearly stated to the players before the game that they needed to be more ruthless with their passing, break lines and switch the play. Maybe Pedri or Gavi had the talent to one day match Xavi and Iniesta’s achievements, but elsewhere in the team the level was not the same. Pedri, characteristically, had the most honest and perceptive analysis of what had gone wrong: “We did not have enough rhythm with the ball to move them from side to side.” The mood among the players was still generally positive, and fully supportive of their coach. The 2-1 defeat to Japan generated plenty of anger — artificial or not — among a substantial section of the Spanish media who had been biting their tongue when all was going well for Luis Enrique. [Thiago Alcantara](https://theathletic.com/football/player/thiago-alcantara-uOkkaZsOvZ89x8Fz/), Iago Aspas or Borja Iglesias might have been good choices, and all three had been in Luis Enrique squads before, but fell by the wayside.

More than 1000 passes, hardly any shots on target, a miserable penalty shootout: that's what Spain do. And that's the recipe for a change of manager.