When Spain appointed Luis de la Fuente arsenic caput manager successful December 2022, fewer expected him to present the Nations League (2023), European Championship (2024) and World Cup (2026) successful truthful abbreviated a clip frame.
Spain had conscionable been knocked retired of the World Cup by Morocco successful the past 16 successful Qatar and the federation needed a replacement aft Luis Enrique near his role.
"They went with this feline [De La Fuente] who understood the benignant and the system," added Balague.
"It was a precise risky determination - I don't deliberation anyone thought helium would beryllium truthful successful."
It appeared risky due to the fact that De La Fuente took complaint of Spain, who person won 3 of the past 5 men's European Championships - (2008, 2012, 2024) - without having managed a large club.
After retiring arsenic a subordinate successful 1994, De La Fuente spent 15 years successful antithetic roles with a succession of antithetic clubs, including managing successful the little Spanish leagues, younker roles and adjunct manager positions - earlier helium took complaint of Spain's younker teams.
"De la Fuente knew astir of these players from the academies and they are increasing arsenic a team," erstwhile Spain midfielder Juan Mata told BBC Sport.
"This is not lone a squad for the present, but besides a squad for the future."
Since being appointed elder brag aft stints successful complaint of the under-19s, under-21s and astatine Olympic level, De La Fuente has implemented a civilization of respect for their rivals, for the process and preaching patience and calmness.
"Most of you are younger than maine and you request to respect experience," the 65-year-old told journalists astatine his pre-match quality league successful New York connected Friday.
"Once we finished the game, determination were footballers who said 'coach, present what other is determination to triumph arsenic we person won everything successful each the categories'.
"We came to the decision that what remains is the adjacent lucifer successful September due to the fact that this squad are relentless."
The occurrence of the nationalist teams and Spanish coaches has spilled implicit to nine football.
Despite Pep Guardiola's determination to permission Manchester City aft 10 trophy-packed years, astatine slightest a 4th of the managers who commencement the 2026-27 Premier League play are Spanish.
Spain are present unbeaten successful their past 38 matches successful each competitions, the longest ever tally by immoderate European oregon South American squad successful history.
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