Luis de la Fuente: “It’s hard to improve on 2024”

2024 has been a very special year for Spanish football. Under the leadership of Luis de la Fuente, the national team won the European Championships in Germany this summer, an unforgettable moment for the nation. Now, with some time to reflect on times gone by and with 2025 fast approaching, the coach looks back on the last twelve months and how remarkable the experience been. “I think we’ve managed to play really good football and truly looked like a proper team.”

Togetherness has been one of his core principles since taking over the role in order to make the team a “big family.” Something he achieved in Germany and which he considers key to “meeting the objectives we set.” Spain wowed the footballing world during the Euros, triumphing with young players and a distinctive, personal style. De la Fuente is clear on one point: “Spanish footballers never let you down.”

Pleased with and proud of what has been achieved, the manager feels honoured to have led Spain to such a major success, but what makes him happiest is knowing that “we’ve recovered the spirit of 2010, the one that brought everyone out onto the streets. We’ve made people happy and helped them enjoy themselves.”

However, he is fully aware that this is a long-term journey, and there’s still work to be done, improving and looking to the future. “I think everyone has one eye on the World Cup because it’s the ultimate event.” Even so, he knows that to reach that stage in the best possible condition, “we need to continue with their process. We have to consolidate our ideas and our project.”