Luis de la Fuente (footballer, born 1961)

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Luis de la Fuente
Luis de la Fuente Castillo - 2023 05 06 Final de la Copa del Rey 0001 (cropped).jpg
De la Fuente in 2023
Personal information
Full name Luis de la Fuente Castillo [1]
Date of birth (1961-06-21) 21 June 1961 (age 63) [2]
Place of birth Haro, Spain [2]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Spain (manager)
Youth career
1976–1978 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1978–1982 Bilbao Athletic 59 (3)
1981–1987 Athletic Bilbao 146 (1)
1987–1991 Sevilla 86 (4)
1991–1993 Athletic Bilbao 22 (1)
1993–1994 Alavés 35 (3)
Total348(12)
International career
1978–1979 Spain U18 4 (0)
1982–1984 Spain U21 4 (0)
1988 Spain Olympic 1 (0)
Managerial career
1997–2000 Portugalete
2000–2001 Aurrerá
2001–2005 Sevilla (youth)
2005–2006 Athletic Bilbao (youth)
2006–2007 Bilbao Athletic
2009–2011 Bilbao Athletic
2011 Alavés
2013–2018 Spain U19
2018–2022 Spain U21
2021 Spain U23
2022– Spain
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (as head coach)
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2024 Germany
UEFA Nations League
Winner 2023 Netherlands
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Tokyo 2020 Team
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Winner 2019 Italy–San Marino Team
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2015 Greece Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luis de la Fuente Castillo (born 21 June 1961) is a Spanish football manager and former professional player who played as a left-back. He is the manager of the Spain national team.

Contents

He amassed La Liga totals of 254 matches and six goals over 13 seasons, with Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, winning two league titles with the former including a double with the Copa del Rey in 1984. [3]

De la Fuente began working in the Spanish youth teams in 2013, managing the under-19 team to victory in the 2015 European Championship and the under-21 side to the 2019 equivalent. He coached the Olympic team to the silver medal at the 2020 games, and took over at the seniors in 2022, winning the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024.

Playing career

Born in Haro, La Rioja, de la Fuente graduated from Athletic Bilbao's youth system, [4] and made his senior debut with the reserves in 1978, in the Segunda División B. On 8 March 1981, he made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 away draw against Valencia. [5]

De la Fuente was promoted to the main squad in the summer of 1982. He scored his first professional goal on 26 March 1983, closing the 4–0 home win over Celta. [6]

In July 1987, de la Fuente signed for fellow top-flight club Sevilla, [7] and continued to appear regularly the following campaigns in defence or as a left winger. [8] In 1991, he returned to Athletic for a 20 million pesetas fee, [9] featuring rarely under coach Jupp Heynckes who arrived one year later. [10]

De la Fuente joined Alavés in 1993, with the side in the third tier. After one season, he retired at the age of 33. [4]

Coaching career

Early years

De la Fuente's first managerial job was at Portugalete, in the regional leagues. In summer 2000, he was appointed at Segunda División B club Aurrerá de Vitoria, [11] but was sacked in March of the following year in spite of a seventh place in the table. [12]

After a spell back at Sevilla (academy), de la Fuente returned to Athletic. [13] Initially a manager of the youths and the reserves, [14] he also acted as match delegate for two years [15] before returning to his previous duties. [16]

On 13 July 2011, de la Fuente was named Alavés coach, [17] being dismissed on 17 October. [18]

Spain youths

On 5 May 2013, de la Fuente was appointed at the helm of the Spain under-19 team, [19] who won the 2015 UEFA European Championship in Greece. [20] He became manager of the under-21 side in July 2018, after Albert Celades resigned. [21] His first competition was the 2019 European Championship in Italy, conquered after the 2–1 final defeat of Germany in Udine. [22]

On 8 June 2021, de la Fuente and his team filled in as the Spain senior side for a UEFA Euro 2020 friendly against Lithuania, after the aforementioned squad had gone into isolation when Sergio Busquets tested positive for COVID-19. [23] They won 4–0 in Leganés. [24]

De la Fuente was also in charge of the Spanish Olympic team at the delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. [25] His side won the silver medal, losing 2–1 to Brazil in the final. [26]

Spain senior

On 8 December 2022, de la Fuente was appointed head coach of the senior side, as Luis Enrique resigned following a round-of-16 penalty shootout elimination at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by Morocco. [27] He was officially presented four days later, with a contract running until UEFA Euro 2024 with the option to be extended. [28]

De la Fuente won 3–0 in a European qualifier at home to Norway in his first game on 25 March 2023, with two goals by 32-year-old debutant Joselu. [29] He led the country to victory in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League (a first ever), defeating Croatia 5–4 on penalties following a 0–0 draw in Rotterdam. [30]

Spain finished the Euro 2024 group stage in first place, scoring five goals and conceding none. [31] De la Fuente's side went on to claim the trophy in Berlin with seven wins in as many matches, beating England 2–1 in the final. [32]

Style of coaching

Due to his background coaching in youth setups, de la Fuente liked to work with younger players familiar to him and not high-maintenance. Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Fabián Ruiz and Unai Simón won the under-21 European championship title during his tenure, and later represented the full team under the same manager. [33] He explained his philosophy by stating that "I come from a grassroots background. Our commitment, to the people we trust in the youth system, is not a pose, it is a conviction". [34]

Spain often dominated possession under de la Fuente, also starting to use a more traditional centre-forward and delivering more crosses to the box. [33]

Personal life

De la Fuente married a woman from Andalusia, with whom he had three children. One son, Alberto, was also involved in the sport, and at one point worked with his father in the Royal Spanish Football Federation as an analyst. [35]

Having been raised Catholic, de la Fuente embraced the religion again in adulthood. [36]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 18 November 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecordRef
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
Portugalete Flag of Spain.svg 1 July 199730 June 2000122693419231104+127056.56
Aurrerá Flag of Spain.svg 1 July 200014 March 200132111382925+4034.38 [37]
Bilbao Athletic Flag of Spain.svg 8 July 200628 May 2007381112153949−10028.95 [38]
Bilbao Athletic Flag of Spain.svg 8 July 20097 July 2011762129266479−15027.63 [39]
Alavés Flag of Spain.svg 13 July 201117 October 2011114431513+2036.36 [40]
Spain U19 Flag of Spain.svg 5 May 201324 July 20185136699048+42070.59 [41]
Spain U21 Flag of Spain.svg 24 July 20188 December 202242344411324+89080.95 [42]
Spain U23 Flag of Spain.svg 1 June 20217 August 20217331106+4042.86 [43]
Spain Flag of Spain.svg 8 December 2022Present2823327219+53082.14 [44]
Total40721210887663367+296052.09—

Honours

Player

Athletic Bilbao

Manager

Spain U19

Spain U21

Spain U23

Spain

Individual

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References

  1. ↑ "Squad List: Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Spain (ESP)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 July 2021. p. 16. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Luis de la Fuente at WorldFootball.net
  3. ↑ Miñano, Rosario (10 July 2024). "El lado personal de Luis de la Fuente: discreto, familiar y elogiador de los futbolistas de la Roja" [The personal side of Luis de la Fuente: low profile, intimate and complimentary of the Roja footballers] (in Spanish). Antena 3 . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 Falagán, Aser (7 August 2021). "De la Fuente, el éxito de un técnico discreto" [De la Fuente, the success of a low-key manager]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "0–0: Abdicación valencianista ante el Athletic" [0–0: Valencianista abdication against Athletic]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 March 1981. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Castañeda, Eduardo (27 March 1983). "El Athletic, sin problemas" [Athletic, no problems]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Granado, Luis (6 July 1987). "El lateral del Athletic De la Fuente firma hoy contrato por el Sevilla" [Athletic full-back De la Fuente signs contract with Sevilla today]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Jiménez, José Antonio (8 December 2022). "Luis de la Fuente: El seleccionador al que una tarjeta 'echó' del Sevilla" [Luis de la Fuente: The national team manager 'ousted' from Sevilla by a booking] (in Spanish). Mucho Deporte. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "El Sevilla traspasa a De la Fuente al Athletic de Bilbao por veinte millones" [Sevilla transfer De la Fuente to Athletic de Bilbao for twenty millions]. ABC (in Spanish). 5 September 1991. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Ruiz, Pako (15 May 2019). "Luis de la Fuente: "No tengo el corazón partido, mi vida ha sido el Athletic"" [Luis de la Fuente: "My heart is not divided, Athletic has been my life"]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  11. ↑ "Una apuesta para dar un salto cualitativo" [A bet to make a jump of quality]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 2 September 2000. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  12. ↑ Parcero, Bruno (14 March 2001). "Los nervios afloran en el tramo final" [Nerves everywhere in final stretch]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente, el último fichaje para Lezama" [Luis de la Fuente, last signing for Lezama]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 21 June 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente, new Bilbao Athletic coach". Athletic Bilbao. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente, the new delegate". Athletic Bilbao. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente ya trabaja con el Bilbao Athletic" [Luis de la Fuente already works with Bilbao Athletic]. El Correo (in Spanish). 8 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente retorna al Alavés como entrenador después de 17 años" [Luis de la Fuente returns to Alavés as a manager 17 years later]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  18. ↑ M. Otero, Pablo (16 October 2011). "El Alavés destituye a su técnico Luis de la Fuente" [Alavés dismiss their manager Luis de la Fuente]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "La Federación Española ficha a Luis De la Fuente, que dirigirá la Sub'19" [The Spanish Federation signs Luis De la Fuente, who will manage the under-19s]. El Correo (in Spanish). 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Los campeones Sub-19 ya están en España" [The Under-19 champions are already in Spain]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 20 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  21. ↑ "OFICIAL: Luis de la Fuente seleccionador sub 21" [OFFICIAL: Luis de la Fuente under-21 manager] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  22. 1 2 Fisher, Ben (30 June 2019). "Classy Spain sink Germany to lift Euro Under-21 Championship". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  23. ↑ G. Matallanas, Javier; Santos Chozas, Sergio (7 June 2021). ""Estoy preparado si tengo que dirigir a la Selección en la Eurocopa"" ["I'm prepared if I have to lead the national team at the Euros"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  24. ↑ Feldman, Ben (8 June 2021). "Spain youngsters impress in Lithuania rout". Marca. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "Pedri, Garcia & Torres among Spain's Euro 2020 players named in Tokyo Olympics squad". Goal. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Tokyo Olympics 2021 medal count updates: who has won more? Tally by country, today, 7 August". Diario AS. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  27. ↑ Lara, Miguel Ángel; Picó, Diego (8 December 2022). "Luis de la Fuente is Spain's new coach, succeeding Luis Enrique". Marca. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  28. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente, en su presentación: "Va a ser una etapa fantástica"" [Luis de la Fuente, in his presentation: "This will be a fantastic spell"] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "Spain 3–0 Norway". BBC Sport. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  30. 1 2 Smith, Emma (18 June 2023). "Croatia 0–0 Spain (Spain win 5–4 on penalties)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  31. ↑ Herrero, Jorge (27 June 2024). "La perfección le sale cara a España: es la única que ha ganado sus tres partidos, pero no evita el lado difícil" [Perfection comes without a prize for Spain: they are the only won to have won their three matches, but do not avoid top section] (in Spanish). ElDebate.com . Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  32. 1 2 McNulty, Phil (14 July 2024). "Spain 2–1 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  33. 1 2 Corrigan, Dermot (20 November 2023). "This is Luis de la Fuente's Spain: Functional, lower-profile and with realistic expectations". The Athletic . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  34. ↑ "Spain 'contenders' at Euro 2024 but need 'time', says De La Fuente". The Sun . 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  35. ↑ "Luis de la Fuente: la vida familiar de un hombre discreto, sin redes sociales y un hijo que se dedica al fútbol" [Luis de la Fuente: the family life of an unassuming man, without social media and a footballing son] (in Spanish). RTVE. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  36. ↑ Martínez-Bordiú, Almudena (12 July 2024). "Coach says making sign of the cross before game 'is not superstition, it's faith'". Catholic News Agency . Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  37. ↑ "Matches Luis de la Fuente, 2000–01 season". BDFutbol.
  38. ↑ "Matches Luis de la Fuente, 2006–07 season". BDFutbol.
  39. ↑ "Matches Luis de la Fuente, 2009–10 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Luis de la Fuente, 2010–11 season". BDFutbol.
  40. ↑ "Matches Luis de la Fuente, 2011–12 season". BDFutbol.
  41. ↑ "Spain U19: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  42. ↑ "Spain U21: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  43. ↑ "Spain U23: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  44. ↑ "Spain: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  45. 1 2 ""The Barge years. The Athletic of 1983 and 1984"". Athletic Bilbao. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  46. ↑ Gomes, Julio (18 January 2021). "Athletic Bilbao mostra que é possível resistir e, vez ou outra, ser feliz..." [Athletic Bilbao show it's possible to resist, and win, now and then...] (in Portuguese). Universo Online . Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  47. ↑ "IFFHS AWARDS 2024 – Luis de la Fuente, men's world best national coach". IFFHS. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
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