Making sense of Luis Enrique’s return to the Spanish national team
After departing the Spanish national team in June due to the tragic illness of daughter Xana, Luis Enrique has returned to La Roja.
The return of manager Luis Enrique should have been a straightforward, albeit emotional transition of power, but in typical fashion for the Spanish national team, it was anything but.
Assistant manager Robert Moreno had taken control of the team, and had done an admirable job. He had stated he would step aside at any time should Enrique want to return to the team, but did have a contract through this summer’s European Championships had that not happened.
Moreno had led Spain to an unbeaten nine-game tenure, picking up seven wins and two draws as La Roja qualified at the top of their group for this summer’s Euros.
With the return of Enrique, it was widely expected that Moreno would return as his assistant, however, this has not been the case.
Feeling betrayed by Enrique and RFEF president Luis Rubiales, Moreno’s departure from the team felt odd, and he later released a statement per AS.
"“I have always maintained that I am a man of my word, that I would not be an impediment in the event that Luis Enrique decided to coach again… I have done so even though it has meant my departure. I wish him well because his joys will be ours…. My experience as head coach began and ended in the same way, with a bittersweet flavour.” – Robert Moren (quote via AS)"
Moreno reportedly disagreed with the manner in which the Spanish FA returned Enrique to his post, after the former Barcelona coach took several months off due to the tragic death of his nine-year-old daughter from bone cancer. Moreno had been Enrique’s assistant for years, working under him during stops at Roma, Celta Vigo, Barcelona, and previously Spain.
After the sheer madness of the Julen Lopetegui situation a day before the World Cup, Fernando Hierro’s subsequent poor performance during that tournament, and now the Enrique/Moreno drama, Spain have now had four managerial changes since summer 2018.
Enrique is a top coach, and absolutely the right choice to lead Spain forward. It is encouraging that he has returned to football after such an unthinkable tragedy, one that would keep many out of football for the rest of their lives.
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He will now need to focus on working with a less-talented group than the Spain teams of the past, but one that maintains sky-high expectations. It has been nothing less than a turbulent year for La Roja, and stability will need to return for this team to overachieve and truly contend for their third European title in the last four tournaments.