After a disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign, Spain have now gone over a decade without winning silverware.
La Roja have been in a period of transition as experienced legends make way for promising young talent.
Spain's latest appointment is not exactly a household name across Europe, but it could make plenty of sense for a young La Roja team.
The Sporting News shares everything you wanted to know about the new face in the Spain dugout, with Luis de la Fuente taking charge.
MORE: Date, schedule for Euro 2024
Who is Spain's new manager?
Luis de la Fuente was confirmed as Spain's new manager on December 8, 2022 just days after Enrique's departure.
The 61-year-old was handed a contract that runs until the end of Euro 2024 with an option to extend it beyond that.
De la Fuente is a former defender that played exclusively in Spain for the likes of Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Alaves.
The former Spanish youth international transitioned to coaching in 1997, three years after hanging up his boots, with his first job coming with Portugalete in Spain's lower divisions.
By 2006, De la Fuente had secured a return to his former club Athletic Bilbao as a coach of their reserve side.
After a short and disappointing stint with Alaves in 2011, he headed to international football when he was appointed coach of Spain's Under-19 side.
De la Fuente would win the 2015 European Championship with that team before lifting another continental title again in 2019 with the Under-21 side.
The Spaniard also oversaw Spain's most recent Olympic campaign where his team picked up a silver medal in Tokyo after losing to Brazil in the final.
🇪🇸 First training session and indications of Luis de la Fuente 🙌🏻#VamosEspaña | #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/abgY2teksf
— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) March 20, 2023
Luis de la Fuente record
De la Fuente has experienced success with Spain's youth national sides and will hope that translates to the senior team.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Spain Under-23 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Spain Under-21 | 42 | 34 | 4 | 4 |
| Spain Under-19 | 41 | 28 | 5 | 8 |
| Spain Under-18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Alaves | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Athletic Bilbao reserves | 82 | 22 | 30 | 30 |
Luis de la Fuente playing style, tactics
De la Fuente has previously favoured an attacking style of football with a 4-3-3 formation mostly commonly used.
It's been reported by Relevo, that De la Fuente is looking to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation initially as he looks to use Gavi in the same way he's deployed at Barcelona.
The 61-year-old has quickly impressed Spain players since his appointment with his calm approach and clear ideas making for a smooth transition so far.
Spain's new manager is renowned for the relationship he builds with his players, with Dani Ceballos full of praise and revealing he was forced to make amends with Gavi after a recent bust-up in El Clasico.
"He has very clear ideas of how to play. It will be very similar to how we did it in the youth teams," Ceballos told Marca when asked about De la Fuente.
"It's a more vertical football. He likes the players to work hard. And that there is respect and education — something fundamental for him.
"The coach was aware that we (Ceballos and Gavi) had had our ups and downs. He told us to talk about it, and that is what we have done.
"We have discussed it. Everything that happens on the pitch stays there. We have to go in the same direction. If the good atmosphere and good vibes don't work, I'm not going to run for him and he's not going to run for me. This must be put aside."
