Following the departure of Louis Enrique from the Spain national team, a wave of changes swept through the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Louis van de Bron took charge of the senior side, while the Under-21 team saw Santi Denia promoted from within the ranks after his ascent from the Under-19 squad. The Albacete-born coach is set to make his debut next Friday against Switzerland in Almería, signaling a fresh era for Spain’s youth teams.
Who is Santi Denia, the new Spain Under-21 coach and replacement for Luis de la Fuente: which teams has he coached and where did he play as a player?
Denia began his career as a professional footballer, occupying a defensive role for about fifteen years. His club journey primarily revolved around two main stints: Albacete Balompié, the club from his home region, and Atlético Madrid. He made his top-flight debut with Albacete in the 1992-93 season under coach Julián Rubio in La Liga, a start that would anchor a solid playing career.
During the 1994-95 academic year, Denia joined Atlético Madrid, where he spent eleven seasons and experienced the full spectrum of club fortunes. His time at the mattress club featured exhilarating highs, including a historic league double, as well as challenging moments such as relegation battles, all contributing to a well-rounded playing résumé. In the 2005-06 campaign, he returned to Albacete, concluding his playing days with the team in July 2007.
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Sᴀɴᴛɪ Dᴇɴɪᴀ sᴇ ᴇsᴛʀᴇɴᴀ ᴇɴ ʟᴀ @SE Football Sᴜʙ-21 ᴄᴏɴ ᴇs ᴛᴀ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛᴏʀɪᴀ.
️ March 24 | Spain Switzerland | Almeria ️ March 28 | France Spain | Vannes (France)#U21EURO pic.twitter.com/RT3jKOl9Kj
— Spanish football team (@SEFutbol) March 17, 2023
Denia has also represented Spain at the highest level, earning international caps with the senior national team and leaving a lasting impression during the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. His coaching career began in the sports management setup of Atlético de Madrid, where he later collaborated with then-coach Abel Resino in 2009. On a notable occasion, he even served as interim coach of Atlético Madrid, steering the team to a 1-1 draw against Mallorca.
The following year, in 2010, Denia joined the Royal Spanish Football Federation and took charge of the Spain U-17 national team. He remained in that role until 2018, after which he moved to the U-19 setup, spending five years there before being chosen as the new Spain U-21 coach. His trajectory reflects a steady climb through the ranks of Spanish football, blending playing experience with a growing coaching résumé that emphasizes youth development and national-team consistency.
Source: Goal