Faith forges Spain's golden return

When Luis de la Fuente was appointed as Spain head coach in December 2022 following their exit from the Qatar World Cup, very few people knew his name.

However, the Spanish Football Federation's seemingly risky decision has now ushered in a golden era for La Furia Roja.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Under De la Fuente, Spain won the 2023 Nations League, the 2024 European Championship and, yesterday, reclaimed the World Cup by outclassing Argentina in the final in New Jersey.

According to football analysts, this remarkable success is the result of prioritising institutional continuity over stellar reputations.

The story behind this incredible feat is long. De la Fuente enjoyed a solid playing career, making over 250 La Liga appearances and winning a league and Copa del Rey double with Athletic Club in 1984.

Yet his transition into coaching started far away from the elite. When he finally got a shot at a senior job with third-tier Alaves in 2011, he was sacked after just 11 matches.

He spent nearly two years out of the managerial game. However, a trivial newspaper advertisement from the federation seeking youth coaches changed his trajectory. He applied without hesitation, securing a temporary trial with the under-19 side, and never looked back.

The secret to Spain's staggering current success lies in the profound trust the manager places in his players.

De la Fuente knows this core group intimately. He has watched the likes of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino and Unai Simon develop since they were teenagers, guiding them to youth European Championships and an Olympic silver medal.

Remarkably, goalkeeper Simon, Aymeric Laporte, Pedro Porro, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Marc Cucurella all arrived at the World Cup following difficult, injury-plagued or underwhelming club seasons. Aside from Pau Cubarsi, hardly anyone enjoyed a flawless campaign.

But De la Fuente harnessed the hunger of a squad desperate to prove themselves. Tactically and culturally, he built a team that believes in the collective rather than the individual.

Despite this being a World Cup defined by superstars, Spain's success did not revolve around a single focal point. Talents like Lamine Yamal and Pedri are among the world's best, but the team were not held hostage by high-profile names.

Pedri was benched after the round of 16, and Yamal willingly adopted a disciplined wide role rather than acting as an isolated playmaker.

"I know these footballers and I make my decisions based on how much I know them," De la Fuente said during Euro 2024 when his squad came under criticism.

The players have returned that loyalty with fierce devotion, with defender Cucurella even promising to get the manager's face tattooed on his arm if they won the trophy.

Speaking after the final, the champion manager revealed the insatiable appetite of his squad. "The players have asked me what we have left to win," De la Fuente told reporters.

The seeds of institutional continuity have grown into a towering success. After the golden generation of 2010 faded sooner than many expected, Spain have found their way back to the summit.