Luis de la Fuente, the current coach of the Spanish national football team, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks due to controversy surrounding his contract with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Although this issue still troubles him, it was an unlikely turn of events—a simple newspaper article—that helped him secure his position with La Roja. De la Fuente spoke about this pivotal moment during a recent talk at the Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid, where he reflected on the unique opportunity that a brief, two-line article in a sports newspaper gave him.
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“I’m here thanks to an article that was no more than two lines long, buried in the back pages of a sports newspaper. The Federation was looking for a coach for the youth teams, and I called Iñaki Sáez, who was like a father to me in football, to ask him about the opportunity. I started climbing the ranks from there,” Luis de la Fuente explained. “Some would have liked me to stay for less time, but I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
De la Fuente, the only Spanish coach to have won the European Championship at three different levels—under-19, under-21, and senior—expressed how much joy and satisfaction these achievements brought him. “Many of the players I worked with in those early days are still with me in the senior team today,” he added. He emphasized that the recent 2024 Euro Championship victory with Spain had brought him much prestige.
Prestige and Growth Through Titles
The Spanish coach believes that titles at the senior level offer an added layer of prestige.
“Winning titles with the senior team gives you prestige and confidence. Although I’ve always been confident in my abilities because I approach everything with conviction and honesty,” De la Fuente revealed. “The most gratifying part of winning these trophies is seeing the people happy and celebrating.”
De la Fuente also shared one of the greatest compliments he had received throughout his career. “One of the best compliments I’ve been given is that I’m low-profile, and I find that beautiful because nothing in life is handed to you. You have to earn it, and I’m proud of the journey I’ve taken.”
Leading the Spanish National Football Team
Luis de la Fuente opened up about the challenges of coaching a national team and how it differs from managing a club. “Being a national team coach is very different from coaching a club. When I started, I didn’t fully understand the nuances, but I’ve learned along the way,” he shared.
“Now that I understand how things work, I prefer to call up players who give me the security that we are going to be competitive and achieve something. It’s about finding a balance.”
Early in his tenure, De la Fuente paid close attention to everything being said about him, but over time, he distanced himself from the media noise to maintain his independence.
The Importance of Leadership and Team Management
The Spanish coach is a strong believer in leadership but distinguishes it from authority.
“I believe in leadership, but not in authoritarianism. Being a leader is about naturally attracting people and having an invisible aura that draws them to you. I try to lead democratically, listening to everyone. But in the end, the decisions are mine, and I take responsibility,” De la Fuente explained.
“The key to managing a group is working with good people. Technically and tactically, the players already have what it takes. It’s about managing people who believe in you. That gives you tranquility and makes group management easier.”
De la Fuente added that his approach to leadership has helped create an atmosphere where players feel involved in the decision-making process, which, in turn, has contributed to their overall success.
Managing Players and Avoiding Failure
De la Fuente continues to live a balanced lifestyle, doing the same activities he did before becoming the Spanish national coach, including going to the gym. He also made it clear that failure is not part of his vocabulary.
“In my dictionary, the word failure doesn’t exist,” he emphasized. “I’ve always maintained that if you do things with effort and interest, you can achieve your goals.”
The coach also reflected on the unique nature of football, pointing out how unpredictable the sport can be. “Football is the only sport where you can be vastly superior to your opponent and still lose,” De la Fuente remarked.
“For example, a regional team could play against a top-tier side, hit the post seven times, have three shots cleared off the line, and still lose 1-0. That’s football.”
The Journey of a Humble Coach
Despite the controversies and challenges, Luis de la Fuente has remained a humble and hard-working figure in Spanish football. His journey from seeing a tiny, two-line ad in a sports paper to winning the Euro 2024 with the senior national team is a testament to perseverance and dedication.
“I’m here because I saw that article and made a phone call. The rest, as they say, is history,” Luis de la Fuente concluded with a smile. “I’m proud of the road I’ve traveled because no one has given me anything for free.”
Key Takeaways from Luis de la Fuente’s Coaching Journey
Prestige Through Titles: Winning titles brings prestige and solidifies confidence.
Leadership: True leadership comes from drawing people in naturally, not from authority.
Team Management: Working with good people who believe in the project makes group management more efficient.
Avoiding Failure: Success comes from effort, while failure is not a word in De la Fuente’s vocabulary.
