Rafael Louzán: “Luis de la Fuente Is the Perfect National Coach for Spain”

With fewer than 30 days remaining before the start of the World Cup, and just over a month before Spain opens its campaign in the tournament, Europa Press dedicated this Tuesday’s edition of its Sports Breakfast series to Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente, who took part in an extensive interview conducted by journalist Gaspar Díez.

Before De la Fuente took the stage, attendees heard remarks from Europa Press president Asís Martín de Cabiedes and Jaime Olmedo, rector of Camilo José Cela University, which hosted the event at its Madrid city-centre campus.

Prior to the manager’s address, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) paid tribute to De la Fuente, describing him as “an exceptional person and the perfect national coach for Spain.”

According to Rafael Louzán, the Riojan coach “already has the best team in mind because he has known this group of players from the very beginning, both from a sporting and a human perspective. He succeeds in ensuring that every player called up displays generosity and places the team above individual interests.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming World Cup, to be held in the United States and Mexico, the RFEF president declared that “we will give everything we have, taking it one match at a time. Luis’s success is our success. We are going to enjoy a wonderful World Cup, which will also serve as a prelude to the one we will host in Spain during the summer of 2030.”

Speaking further about the national coach, Louzán added: “Wherever his parents may be, I am certain they would be immensely proud to see how their son has achieved all his goals,” a reflection that was especially appreciated by the reigning European Championship-winning manager.

“The edifice of coexistence is built upon the foundations of respect,” Luis de la Fuente stated, highlighting one of the principles that guides his life.

De la Fuente also expressed his gratitude to the RFEF, where he has spent the past thirteen years, and acknowledged two of his predecessors, Iñaki Sáez and Vicente del Bosque, as both personal and professional role models.

The Haro-born coach revealed that “we will call up 26 players for the final tournament squad, and there will also be a list of footballers who will help us complete preparations for the friendly match against Iraq in La Coruña on 4 June.” He also clarified that “there are six goalkeepers included” in the preliminary list of 55 players submitted to FIFA.

“I speak frequently with the players, and they are extremely enthusiastic,” he explained. “I feel very calm and composed because we have been working for many months, and our staff is exceptional.” Regarding the sporting landscape, De la Fuente admitted that “I cannot remember a World Cup with so many potential champions. There are 10 or 12 teams capable of winning the tournament, something unprecedented in history. We believe we are capable of achieving it, just as we did at the European Championship, while understanding that every tournament is different.”

The national coach, who last week presented his autobiography in Madrid under the title Life Is Trained Every Day, also took the opportunity to share some of his most deeply held beliefs about life and work. Although he does not consider himself superstitious, he remarked that “coincidence is God’s pseudonym when He chooses not to sign His name,” and explained that, in his daily work with players, he always seeks to uphold the principle that “the edifice of coexistence is built upon the foundations of respect.”