XtraTime Web Desk: The Royal Spanish Football Federation(RFEF) made serious shake-ups as far as the management of the Spanish National team is concerned. The FA has brought in former Roma and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique as the head coach of the National team. Luis Rubiales, the federation’s president, sacked Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup after the Basque had agreed to join Real Madrid and he appointed Fernando Hierro for the ill-fated campaign in Russia.
For Luis Enrique, this is his first position since he left Barcelona in the summer of 2017, after spending three years in the Camp Nou dugout, where he won three Copa del Reys, two LaLiga titles, one Champions League, one Supercopa de Espana, one UEFA Super Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Before Barcelona, he had coached Barcelona B, Celta Vigo and Roma.
The challenge for the new boss is to take Spain back to the top of the international game, as they have fallen in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup and at the last 16 stage at Euro 2016 and at this year’s tournament.
As far as the Sporting Director post is concerned, they have roped in former ATK and Kitchee coach Jose Francisco Molina.
The former Valencia and Atletico Madrid player succeeds Fernando Hierro, who resigned from the role on Sunday.
“This is the best place to work,” Molina said in Monday’s news conference in the RFEF’s headquarters in Las Rozas, Madrid. “I’m very enthusiastic. A magnificent job has been done in the past. It’s true that in the last three tournaments we have not achieved the results we expected.”
“Things have to change and a new chapter begins. We have to look to the future.”
“Molina has played for the national team,” Rubiales said. “He is known, he has worked for the last 10 years as a manager. We consider him the ideal candidate.”