Euro 2024: Who is Luis de la Fuente? Who did he manage before Spain? When did he become Spanish head coach?
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Published 14/07/2024 at 12:20 GMT
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente faces off against England boss Gareth Southgate as the two sides meet in the Euro 2024 final. De la Fuente's side have been one of the most impressive teams at the tournament so far, winning every match on their road to the final. The coach will be hoping to add more silverware to the UEFA Nations League title he won in 2023.
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Luis de la Fuente will be hoping to lead Spain to their fourth European Championship title as they face England in the Euro 2024 final.
The 63-year-old, a former Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla defender, has been Spain’s head coach since December 2022 after replacing Luis Enrique, who resigned following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco in a round-of-16 clash at the 2022 World Cup.
De la Fuente claimed his first piece of silverware as he led Spain to victory in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.
Spain beat Croatia on penalties following a 0-0 draw in the final to secure their first Nations League title.
At Euro 2024, De la Fuente’s side have been one of the most impressive teams at the tournament, winning every match on their road to the final.
After finishing the group stage in first place, scoring five goals and conceding none in three games, they beat Georgia, Germany and France to book their spot in the final against England.
Who did De la Fuente manage before Spain?
De la Fuente rose to Spain’s top job after more than two decades of coaching in his country at regional and youth level.
His first managerial job came at Club Portugalete in the Spanish regional leagues.
He then moved on to third-tier side Aurrera in 2000, before spells with the Sevilla (2001-05) and Athletic Bilbao (2005-06) youth teams.
He would later manage Athletic Bilbao’s reserve team for several years before earning his first top-flight experience as coach of Alaves, the club where he ended his playing career.
De la Fuente was dismissed by Alaves in October 2011 after just 11 games in charge.
After two years away from coaching, De la Fuente was appointed manager of the Spain under-19 team in 2013, leading the side to the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship title.
He then rose through the ranks to the Spanish under-21 and under-23 sides, including leading Spain’s Olympic team at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, before earning the top job in 2022.
Prior to coaching, De la Fuente played 254 matches in La Liga for Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla.
He ended his playing career with third-tier side Alaves, retiring at the age of 33.
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