Luis Enrique Steps Down As Spain Manager

By Max Wise

Luis Enrique has stepped down as Spain manager for personal reasons after less than a year in charge.

The former Barcelona manager was appointed as boss of La Furia Roja in July last year following their dismal showing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The latest development means that the 2010 world champions will be managed by a fourth manager in the last 12 months.

Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of Spain’s world cup opener against Portugal last year after he accepted to replace Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid boss without the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s knowledge.

Lopetegui was replaced by Fernando Hierro for the tournament but he departed his role after Spain lost on penalties to hosts Russia in the last 16 stage.

Enrique, who led Barcelona to win the 2015 Champions League, took over in July 2018 on a two-year contract but will now be replaced by his assistant Robert Moreno.

Moreno has overseen Spain’s last three games after Enrique took a break in March to attend to a “family matter of urgent nature”.

"It was a decision Luis Enrique took himself, which we are grateful for," said Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation.

"We will have a perfect memory of him. It's a personal matter which doesn't depend on us. We think it's the best thing to do.

"We are convinced that the best response is the most prepared team, and that team is represented by Robert [Moreno] and his group, who arrived with Luis Enrique."

Moreno, who has also assisted Enrique at Celta Vigo, AS Roma and Barcelona said: “This is a bittersweet day, more bitter than sweet.”

“I always dreamed of being Spain coach, but not like this.”