European title coach has old contract
©IMAGO
In an interview, Luis de la Fuente indirectly complained about his (too) low salary as Spanish national coach and European champion and thereby expressed his desire for a timely contract adjustment. In principle, he is very satisfied with his position, emphasized the 63-year-old in the program “El Larguero” on the Spanish radio station “SER Chain“. If it weren’t for the open matter with his working paper.
De la Fuente took over the Spanish national team after the round of 16 exit at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022 as the successor to Luis Enrique (now at PSG). The RFEF football association promoted its previous U21 coach. De la Fuente worked successfully for his country’s youth teams and became U21 (2019) and U19 European champions (2015) with his teams.
Last February, the association activated a contract clause that extended the former Bilbao coach’s working paper until 2026. Then the next World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. At the European Championships in Germany, de la Fuente led La Furia Roja to the title in the final against England. Nevertheless, an improved contract is still a long time coming.
“I want this problem to be resolved as quickly as possible and I say that from the bottom of my heart, for the good of Spanish football, for stability, for peace of mind,” said the title coach. “I’m happy, but I think you have to put closure on things when you talk about them. I don’t know if I’m jumping in at the deep end if I tell you that, legally speaking, the RFEF could have already concluded the contract. I really don’t mind waiting until the new president.” But he is sure that the matter will be resolved.
De la Fuente continued: “I have my contract until after the World Cup, as do my staff. My staff have improved their conditions, but the same conditions apply to me as when I was promoted from the U21 team. I have a contract as an executive and not as a top coach, that’s it.” It would therefore only be fair if the contract was adjusted. According to the coach, there was pressure on the people who had to decide on this matter.
Spain’s national coach de la Fuente wants his achievements to be recognized
“I am very calm and want a decision to be made with certainty. “I’m happy, but I want to stay that way,” de la Fuente made clear. He thinks it is conceivable that the matter would have already been off the table with his predecessor. “It’s possible that with Luis Enrique it would already be solved, I don’t know. I feel the support of the people at RFEF and even more so now.”
De la Fuente revealed that there are other options for him on the market. And he would have earned an improved salary based on his sporting achievements. “I have opportunities and offers, that’s completely normal. It would be strange if the reigning European champions didn’t have one, but it’s not normal for a European champion to be without a contract. That’s fine, but that’s how it is. Participating in a World Cup with Spain is more important to me than any other offer. I am proud to coach my country’s national team, I am privileged. I never thought I would be where I am now. After what I have achieved and the way in which I have achieved it, it should be recognized.”
