Former Under23s manager says he knows \u2018the present and future\u2019 of country\u2019s football better than anyone
\n MADRID
\nNew Spain coach Luis de la Fuente defended his appointment after criticism he lacked experience at the top level, during his presentation on Monday.
\nThe 61-year-old, appointed until after Euro 2024, has coached Spain\u2019s youth teams since 2013, most recently the U23 side.
\nDe la Fuente replaces Luis Enrique after the former Barcelona coach was sacked following Spain\u2019s shock World Cup last 16 defeat by Morocco.
\n\u201cI was a professional player for 15 years,\u201d De la Fuente told a press conference.
\n\u201cI won titles, I was an international (at youth level) apart from with the national team.
\n\u201cI have (coached) 16 players who were in the Spain squad at the World Cup.
\n\u201cIf there is anyone in Spain who knows the present and the future of Spanish football, it\u2019s me.\u201d
\nDe la Fuente was a left-back for Athletic Bilbao in the 1980s and 90s, winning two La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey with the Basque team.
\nHe also played for Sevilla and Alaves before starting his coaching career.
\nThe new Spain coach earned silver with the national side at the 2020 Olympics, losing in extra-time to Brazil in the gold medal match.
\nDe la Fuente was asked if he would recall Sergio Ramos and, while he did not want to speak about individual players, left the door open for the veteran Paris Saint-Germain defender to earn a recall.
\nRamos is Spain\u2019s most capped player with 180 caps between 2005 and 2021.
\n\u201cAll players in condition are liable to being called up,\u201d said De la Fuente.
\nThe coach admitted he took the job instantly after being offered it and said he would stay faithful to Spain\u2019s classic style of play, while not closing himself off to other ideas.
\nSpain dominated possession in the World Cup, attempting over 1,000 passes against Morocco, but only forged one shot on target over 120 minutes and were eliminated on penalties.
\n\u201cThere is one thing that is not negotiable, one idea and one model,\u201d added De la Fuente.
\n\u201cIt adapts to any system, it\u2019s not incompatible. I will try to incorporate nuances to improve.
\n\u201cWe will try to grow and keep improving, interpreting the changes in the game.
\n\u201cWe are not closed off to anything, we are open to change things when it is necessary.\u201d
\nFormer Deportivo La Coruna winger Albert Luque was also confirmed as the new sporting director of the national team, replacing Jose Francisco Molina, who will depart in January.
\nSpanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales said he, Luque, and outgoing sporting director Molina agreed that a new project must begin, which was why they fired Luis Enrique after the World Cup exit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former Under23s manager says he knows \u2018the present and future\u2019 of country\u2019s football better than anyone MADRID New Spain coach Luis de la Fuente defended his appointment after criticism he lacked experience at the top level, during his presentation on Monday. The 61-year-old, appointed until after Euro 2024, has coached Spain\u2019s youth teams since 2013, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":301110,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-301084","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n