Spain coach Luis Enrique out after shock FIFA World Cup exit

Enrique, who was first appointed Spain coach in 2018, had a contract until the end of the year.

The 52-year-old coach said that he was to blame for Spain’s defeat to Morocco on penalties. | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Spain parted ways with Luis Enrique, naming Luis de la Fuente as his replacement as head coach of the country’s national team following Spain’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup.

Morocco upset Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday in the round of 16 in Qatar. Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, was favored over Morocco, which reached its first-ever quarterfinals.

Enrique was coaching on an expiring contract. de la Fuente, 61, was in charge of the Spain team that won the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Enrique, 52, was a favorite of his players, but fans and Spanish media called for his resignation this week. The Spanish football federation wished Enrique well in a statement.

“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,” the statement read.

Enrique becomes the fifth coach to depart a national team following elimination at the World Cup in Qatar.

Also out are Gerardo “Tata” Martino of Mexico, Roberto Martinez of Belgium, Otto Addo of Ghana and Paulo Bento of Portugal.