Luis Enrique leaves role as Spain manager

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have confirmed that Luis Enrique has left his role as manager of Spain’s national team.

La Roja suffered a fairly early elimination from the 2022 World Cup earlier this week, falling to neighbours Morocco on penalties in the last 16.

And manager Enrique will pay the price for this failure, with the RFEF announcing on Thursday that he will be leaving his post.

A statement read: “The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the absolute national team in recent years.

“The sports management of the RFEF has transferred to the president a report in which it is determined that a new project should start for the Spanish Soccer Team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and their collaborators. Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, Jose Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to the coach.

“The Asturian coach managed to give a new impetus to the national team since his arrival, in 2018, through a profound renovation that has consolidated a generational change in the team and in Spanish football.

“Luis Enrique qualified for two semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, of the three he played as coach; and he reached the semifinals of Euro 2020 with his own stamp and through a defined style. He opted for young talent and has sown hope for the future of the Spanish team.

“The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects. The coach earns the love and admiration of his collaborators in the national team and of the entire Federation, which will always be his home.”

Enrique was first appointed as Spain boss in 2018, before taking some time off the following year to spend time with his terminally ill daughter.

He returned to his post in late 2019 and oversaw La Roja’s run to the semi-finals at Euro 2020.