In the world of football — think Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Vincente Del Bosque, Rinus Michels and Arsene Wenger — only a handful of managers have left an indelible mark as Spain’s Luis De La Fuente.
With a managerial career spanning over a decade, De La Fuente has transformed Spain into a dominant force once more, leading the team to numerous championships and cementing their status as one of the football powerhouses in the world.
De La Fuente’s impact goes beyond mere trophies – his innovative tactics, dedication to player development, and unwavering commitment to excellence have revolutionized the sport, leaving an enduring legacy that will be felt for generations to come.
In this exclusive profile, we delve into the remarkable story of Luis De La Fuente, the mastermind behind Spain’s success, and analyze his remarkable achievements with La Roja.
De La Fuente’s records and achievements with Spain’s u-19
It did not take De La Fuente long to get his name into Spain’s history books. After spending almost 18 months without a team after his short stint at Deportivo Alaves in the Segunda B, Spanish football’s third tier in 2013, De La Fuente was given the chance to manage La Roja’s u-19 and this move proved to be the start of a lasting union.
After he was given a three-month contract, from March to June 2013, De La Fuente was able to safeguard Spain’s U-19 team through the elite round to the semi-finals of EURO U-19 in Lithuania, where they eventually lost to France.
Two years later, Spain won their 7th U-19 European Championship in 2015 under the guidance of De La Fuente. The generation that produced EURO 2024 winners like Mikel Merino, Unai Simon, and Rodri.
After this pinnacle in his third term as u-19 head coach, De La Fuente went through a tough spell after failing to qualify for the U-19 European Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
De La Fuente’s triumph with Spain’s u-21 team. 
Despite a difficult spell in his last 3 terms ( 2016,2017,2018), De La Fuente was promoted to the U-21 team after winning the Mediterranean Games in 2018.
De La Fuente returned the favour to La Roja by winning their 5th U-21 European Championship in 2019 in his first tenure with the U-21 side.
This generation produced EURO 2024 winners such as Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal, and other key players such as Jesus Vallejo, Dani Ceballos, and Carlos Soler.
De La Fuente’s achievement with the Olympic Team. 
Luis De La Fuente was entrusted to guard the Spanish National team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after an amazing period with the U-21 side.
Spain went all the way to the finals and had to settle for a silver medal after losing the final to Brazil.
The silver medal in the 2021 Olympic Games saw Spain end a 21-year-long medal drought in the Olympic Games as they last won a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games.
This generation saw EURO 2024 winners such as Unai Simon, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Oyarzabal.
De La Fuentes records in the 2022 Nations League 
Luis De La Fuente earned Spain’s first trophy since 2012 after beating Croatia in the 2023 Nations League final to win their maiden edition.
The win saw La Roja become the second team, after France, to win the EURO, World Cup, and Nations League.
That generation also saw EURO 2024 winners such as Unai Simon, David Raya, Dani Carvajal, Jesús Navas, Ayemeric Laporte, Le Normand, Rodrigo Cascante, Martin Zubimendi, Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Morata, Joselu, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo.
De La Fuentes records in the 2024 EUROS. 
The records of De La Fuente with La Roja from the lower division earned him the chance to succeed Luis Enrique in December 2022, after Enrique parted ways with Spain as a result of poor performances in the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup.
De La Fuente earned Spain’s 4th European Championship and first EUROS since 2012.
Spain were crowned Champions of Europe on Sunday, July 14, 2024, as they left it late to brush aside England and secure a record-breaking fourth European Championship title.
The win over England saw Spain become the first nation ever to win all 7 matches in a single Euros tournament after beating some of the European powerhouses such as Italy, Germany, France, and England.
Luis De La Fuente, the unsung hero of Spain’s recent football renaissance, has achieved what many could only dream of.
De La Fuente has etched his name into the annals of football history by becoming the first coach to win European Championships at three different age levels.
The first manager to win the U19 Euros, U21 Euros, Nations League, and now the European Championship.
De la Fuente’s journey to the zenith of European football is a story of perseverance, dedication, and a persistent belief in his methods.
De la Fuente’s next challenge is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is already on the horizon for a Spain side in top form thanks to a man who has made a long climb to the top.
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Story by: Rabbi Adu Agyei| univers.ug.edu.gh
