Following the high-profile appointment of Luis de la Fuente, the national plan mirrors the previous shift seen under Luis Enrique. The recent transition brings Julen Guerrero, formerly in charge of the Spain under-17s, into the spotlight as the interim coach for the under-19s while Santi Denia moves on from 21 to new assignments. The Royal Spanish Football Federation, known as the RFEF, continues its established method of continuity by building on the foundations laid by Francis Hernández, who has served as coordinator of the youth teams since January 2023 and will assist Albert Luque, the incoming director of Spain. This reshuffle also signals the transition to a new leadership team that will replace José Francisco Molina in the director’s role.
There are notable implications for the national pipeline. Guerrero will oversee the under-19s as they begin their qualification phase for the European Championship. The initial challenges are set for the qualifiers in Malta from July 3 to 16, 2023, with group opponents Ukraine, Denmark, and Luxembourg drawn into their path for a March playoff run. The team is already positioned within a generation that has achieved significant recent success, having claimed the European Under-17 Championship in 2017 and the Under-19 title in 2019. The continuity plan aims to harness this momentum as the federation measures the next steps in its longer term youth development strategy.
The broader leadership shift from the era of Luis Enrique to the current technical governance under de la Fuente is intended to align the national teams with a clear development trajectory. Guerrero, taking the first technical responsibilities for the U-19s, faces the other major hurdle of the season when the federation convenes the qualifying draw in Malta. The draw, announced in midweek before the upcoming fixtures, confirmed that Spain will confront Ukraine, Denmark, and Luxembourg in the march phase, before advancing to the decisive rounds.
These changes, combined with the official endorsement of de la Fuente and the new coaching staff, were outlined after a board meeting of the RFEF. The official plans will be confirmed in a broader announcement slated for December 12, a moment to set out the precise roles for the rest of the coaching setup and support staff. The federation emphasizes continuity in improving Spain’s player development system, with an emphasis on bridging the success of youth sides through to the senior national team. The transition also highlights a strategic emphasis on steady leadership and a long-term view rather than short-term fixes.
The path ahead is clear in both the U-19 and broader youth programs. Guerrero will handle the U-19s during the qualifying phase for the European Championship as the first major test of the new configuration. The Malta tournament window and the spring qualifiers will shape the early narrative of the de la Fuente era and the federation’s ambition to sustain Spain’s standing among Europe’s elite youth programs. The federation remains committed to aligning coaching talent, administrative oversight, and development pathways to deliver consistent and measurable progress across all age groups.
As the new era unfolds, observers will watch how the technical staff harmonizes with the federation’s strategic goals. The focus remains on nurturing homegrown talent, ensuring that players receive optimal development opportunities, and maintaining Spain’s reputation for producing technically adept, tactically fluent players who compete at the highest levels. The forthcoming announcements will provide further clarity on the responsibilities and collaborations that will drive the national teams through the next cycle.