Following the uproar over his applause to Luis Rubiales, the La Roja coach is preparing to reveal Spain’s squad for the qualifying matches ahead of Euro 2024.
The selection for Spain will be announced again in September 2023, with Luis de la Fuente in the dugout after the resignation of Luis Enrique in December 2022.
In that context, De la Fuente will name his squad next Friday, September 1, for the fixtures against Georgia and Cyprus, both part of the qualifying rounds for the 2024 European Championship.
He also faces the ongoing controversy sparked by the Rubiales affair, as a large portion of the public criticized the moment when the Spanish coach clapped the RFEF president at the Extraordinary General Assembly on Friday, August 25.
In a contemporary statement, De la Fuente said he disapproves of Rubiales’ conduct in no uncertain terms. The same De la Fuente who stood and applauded the coach’s speech yesterday now faces questions about the optics of that moment.
That aside, De la Fuente will submit his third call-up next Friday for the games against Georgia and Cyprus. For these matches, Borja Iglesias will be unavailable after deciding to withdraw his move to the senior team in the wake of the Rubiales case.
It marks the coach’s first squad selection since securing the UEFA Nations League title.
Spain’s squad for the September 2023 matches against Georgia and Cyprus
To confirm the roster details, the nation looks ahead to September and the next steps in the Euro 2024 qualifying path.
Which matches will the Spanish national team play in September 2023? Schedules and dates
The Spain squad continues in the Euro 2024 qualifying group, which takes place in Germany. La Roja opened the campaign on March 25 at Malaga’s La Rosaleda against Norway, a match led by Haaland and Odegaard that ended in a 3-0 win for Spain, followed by a 2-0 defeat in Glasgow to Scotland.
Spain competes in Group A alongside Scotland, Norway, Georgia, and Cyprus.
The coaching staff of Luis de la Fuente for the Spanish national team: second coach, fitness coach, analysts, and psychologist — who they are and what roles they play
RFEF
Paul Love serves as the second coach. A former winger who played for Sporting de Gijón, Deportivo de la Coruña, Valladolid, and Zaragoza, Love previously held the Under-18 coaching role.
Carlos Cruz is the physical trainer. Since 2019 he has been part of the RFEF staff in the de la Fuente era, including work with the Under-21 squad.
Miguel Angel Spain occupies the goalkeeper coach role. His playing days included Rayo Vallecano, Hércules, Alicante, and Orihuela, and he has held this position across several lower divisions since joining the RFEF in 2006.
Juanjo Gonzalez acts as assistant technician. After leaving Mareo’s youth academy, he joined Sporting de Gijón’s first team and later joined Luis de la Fuente’s coaching staff with the Under-21s.
Javier Lopez Vallejo serves as psychologist for the senior side. A former goalkeeper for Osasuna and Villarreal, his career also included Recreativo de Huelva and Zaragoza, and he previously held the same role with the women’s Absolute team.
Pablo Pena is the team’s analyst, a trusted member of the staff who has worked with de la Fuente across several years in the national program’s lower categories.