Success with the does not seem to have changed manager Luis de la Fuente all that much. Born in Haro, La Rioja, on 21 June 1961, the 64-year-old manager has built his career on patience. A former player for Athletic Club, Sevilla and Alaves, he has a long history as a coach at grassroots level and led Spain to victory in the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and UEFA EURO 2024.
Now he has his sights set on . But those who know him best insist that his greatest strength is his character. “He’s very approachable, very affable, warm, down-to-earth…”, said Eduardo Verdu, his biographer, to FIFA.
A newspaper advert is one of the unlikely reasons behind his success. The Spanish Football Federation was seeking coaches for their youth teams and de la Fuente was without a club after Alaves had discontinued with his services. Verdu recalls that at the time it was not just a financial matter, but almost a psychological one.
“I think he was afraid of saying, 'I’m being left out of the game.' He was afraid of fading from view and that no one would think of him anymore," said Verdu. Without hesitation, de la Fuente called, got his foot in the door at the Federation.
That announcement eventually led to a conversation with former Spain manager Inaki Saez, whom de la Fuente knew from his time at Athletic Club. He secured a temporary trial as coach of the U-19 side.
"He arrived on a very provisional basis, with the feeling that his time with the national team could come to an end at any moment," said Verdu. "He arrived with little time, without knowing the team well and facing the challenge of a very demanding European Championship qualifying campaign. It was practically a trial period”.
Verdu, who spent many hours with de la Fuente, went into those conversations without knowing Spain’s manager personally, and came out certain that behind the role lay a man far more down-to-earth.
Before winning titles with the senior team, he guided the U-19 squad to a European championship in 2015, the U-21s to championship in 2019, and helped Spain win silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But Verdu detects no trace of arrogance in him. Instead, De la Fuente's authority is a blend of confidence and humility. “He is very aware of his strengths; he’s no fool, but he’s not a braggart."
De la Fuente’s character can largely be attributed to his parents and his upbringing in the town of Haro. “His parents always told him: ‘You’re just one of the lot, keep your feet on the ground, don’t think you’re better than anyone else,'" said Verdu. "When he joined Athletic at a very young age, he was already someone important in the village, but his parents kept telling him not to get carried away, to remain one of them, one of his people.”
De la Fuente came through the ranks at Haro Deportivo before making the leap to Athletic Club’s youth teams, but even when he began to stand out, he never stopped heeding that family advice.
There were also setbacks. Leaving Haro at a very young age to pursue his football dream was an opportunity, but also a heart-wrenching experience. Later came another move, from Bilbao to Sevilla, even further from his community. Verdu recalls that those episodes were emotional for him: “He was very family-oriented; he loved his parents and siblings dearly. I think that need to leave his family and those ties behind really shaped his character.”
De la Fuente often says he speaks “from the heart”, but Verdu adds a crucial nuance. “He has very firm convictions: hard work, pushing oneself to the limit, sacrifice… And these are principles he truly believes in and applies to himself.”
In a dressing room full of stars, De la Fuente's message resonates. One detail that sums up his leadership better than any speech are his manners. Some players were surprised at first to find that when the manager would ask them for things, he would say “please”, and then “thank” them.
And yet, to reduce him to a man who is only serious would be to fall short. Verdu also discovered someone with a touch of the “rascal”, a “bon vivant”, capable of joking and connecting with the dressing room through an energy that is still youthful.
Therein perhaps lies the secret of his Spain: a calm manager, brought up by his family, rooted in Haro, and convinced that life is a daily training session. As his biographer says, “the strong presence of his origins is what keeps him grounded”. And from there, de la Fuente learned to take Spain to the very top.
Sources: FIFA Official
