Former Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique has taken up the job to manage the Spanish National Team, signing a two-year deal, confirms the Spanish Football Federation.
The Spanish Football Federation has announced the appointment of former Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique as the new manager for the national team. The Spanish federation has signed Luis Enrique on a two-year deal, which will expire at the conclusion of the European Championships to be held in 2020.
? OFFICIAL | @LUISENRIQUE21, new @SeFutbol Head Coach#BienvenidoLuisEnrique pic.twitter.com/3KWNauF9WL
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) July 9, 2018
The move comes after a recent period of uncertainty in the Spanish camp. Former manager, Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, after he took up the vacant spot at Real Madrid for next season, notably without ever informing the Spanish Federation regarding his decision.
Such a move angered Federation President Luis Rubiales, who took no time in sacking the manager and putting Sporting Director Fernando Hierro in his place to manage the team in Russia. All these off-field dramas derailed Spain’s bid to progress at the World Cup, with the nation crashing out in the Round-of-16 stage to hosts Russia.
Luis Enrique’s appointment shows the ambition of the federation, who are hoping he could put in place a team that is both competent and hungry to make things right going forward. Followed by that news, was the one where the federation announced the appointment of Jose Francisco Molina as their new Sporting Director after Fernando Hierro stepped down from his role.
With Enrique’s appointment, the Spanish Federation has made a statement of intent to their fans, after the World Cup debacle. Rubiales stated, “I would like to point out that Luis Enrique wanted to be Head Coach and wants to lead the National Team the next two years,”
Enrique had been on a year-long sabbatical from football management after leaving Barcelona at the end of the 2016/17 season, after three successful years with the Catalans. In the past year, when he was not managing any team, has continuously seen his name linked with one top job of football or the other.
Arsenal and Chelsea from the Premier League were thought to be keen on appointing Enrique as their new manager. But since Arsenal have signed Unai Emery to be their new manager and Chelsea are reportedly close to naming Maurizio Sarri from Napoli as a replacement for Antonio Conte.
