SOCCER: De La Fuente's Spain built on family, faith and long road from 'Luis de la Who?'

MADRID — Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s 64-year-old head coach, enters the World Cup with the calm assurance of a man who has learned to embrace football’s unpredictability.

Warm, composed, and quietly confident, de la Fuente has built a national team over years of gradual development, guiding Spain into the tournament as one of the leading contenders after a steady rise through international football.

Speaking before traveling to North America, he said Spain’s resurgence has been driven less by tactics alone and more by a shared mindset within the squad.

“Some time ago, we began to emphasize a word that gave us a great deal of security, confidence and strength — ‘family,’” he said. “We want the Spanish national team to be a family. From the first player to the last, we all work with that idea in mind.”

That philosophy has become the foundation of his Spain side — a group bound by continuity, shared experiences, and trust formed across youth and senior competitions.

A long road to the top

De la Fuente’s path to leading Spain’s senior team was unconventional. A former fullback who played for clubs including Athletic Bilbao, he spent much of his coaching career away from the spotlight, working extensively within Spain’s youth system.

When he was appointed senior national team coach more than three years ago, he was initially met with skepticism from sections of the media, who questioned whether a low-profile federation figure was the right choice for such a high-pressure role.

Since then, he has answered critics with results: UEFA Nations League success in 2023 and the European Championship title in 2024, restoring Spain’s place among international football’s elite.

Reflecting on criticism he received early in his tenure, he said he prefers not to dwell on the past.

“Time proves you right and proves you wrong. Time puts everyone in their place,” he said. “I’m not vindictive. I haven’t changed a bit since then. I’m still the same person.”

A squad built on continuity

A key strength of de la Fuente’s Spain team is the long-standing relationships within the squad, many of whom have progressed together through Spain’s youth ranks.

Midfielder Mikel Merino played under de la Fuente in back-to-back UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals, losing in 2017 before winning in 2019. Forward Mikel Oyarzabal, midfielder Dani Olmo, and Fabián Ruiz were also part of that successful youth generation.

Earlier still, Merino shared a European Under-19 Championship triumph in 2015 alongside midfielder Rodri and goalkeeper Unai Simón.

That continuity extends into the current senior group, which also includes midfielder Pedri, Martín Zubimendi, and defender Marc Cucurella — players who have grown together through various international levels.

De la Fuente believes this shared history gives Spain a unique advantage.

“Our relationship goes beyond the purely professional,” he said. “There hasn’t been a single coach who’s been able to tell them things the way I’ve told them.”

Confidence built on trust

For de la Fuente, the strength of his team lies in familiarity and mutual understanding, where instructions are rooted in trust rather than instruction alone.

“They know that what I tell them comes from honesty and integrity,” he said. “When someone speaks from a place of confidence and conviction, I think we’ve already won a great deal.”

Spain will open their World Cup campaign in Group H against debutants Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, as they seek to capture a second world title following their 2010 triumph.

For de la Fuente, the goal remains simple: allow talent to flourish within a unified system built on trust, continuity, and the belief that his team is, above all, a family. -Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters