Spain sack coach Luis Enrique after Morocco World Cup defeat

Following Spain ‘s loss to Morocco in the World Cup Round of 16, the Spanish football association confirmed on Thursday that coach Luis Enrique had been sacked.

Spain failed to convert their domination into a victory on Tuesday, losing on penalties following a scoreless stalemate.

After the game, the 52-year-old coach admitted that he was to blame for the team’s loss.

Enrique’s contract, which expired at the end of the year after his initial appointment as Spain coach in 2018, won’t be renewed. Jose Luis de la Fuente, Spain ‘s under-21 coach, has taken his place.

🔴 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

While thanking Enrique, the federation said that it was time to “start a new endeavor.”

The Spanish FA issued a statement saying that both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, Jose Francisco Molina, had informed the coach of their choice.

“The sports director of the RFEF has provided the president a report,” the RFEF said. “In this report, it was resolved that a new project should start for the national team, with the purpose of maintaining the progress made in the previous few years due to Luis Enrique and his colleagues.

Spain last won a major title at Euro 2012 ten years ago, and since winning the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, they haven’t won a single World Cup knockout game.

Enrique took over in 2018 following Spain’s poor World Cup performance in Russia. He then guided La Roja to the Euro 2020 semifinals, where they were likewise defeated by Italy on penalties.

Spain made a strong start in Qatar by thrashing Costa Rica 7-0, but La Roja couldn’t win again in their last three games, drawing 1-1 with Germany, falling to Japan 2-1, and being Knocked-out by Moroccan Atlas Lions.