Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is preparing for an emotional return to the Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium in Seville, where his side will face Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.
The fixture sees the current world and European champions looking to continue their impressive run of form, arriving at the ground where De la Fuente took his first steps in management with a Sevilla youth team in 2001.
Despite a playing career in the Spanish top flight with Sevilla and Basque side Athletic Club, De la Fuente was never capped for the national team. Now 65, the manager admitted he could never have imagined leading his country to World Cup and European Championship glory when he began his coaching journey a quarter of a century ago.
De la Fuente said there were times he did not recognise the coach he was back then, adding that beginners often believed they knew much more than they actually did. He noted that over time, coaches learned to view the sport differently, absorbing ideas from their peers and developing their educational approach.
Asked what advice he would give his 40-year-old self, the manager said he would tell him to never give up, to keep working and to remain consistent. He reflected that life had taught him such an attitude created more opportunities, even if he did not see it clearly at the time. He also noted that an 18-month period of unemployment had served as a great lesson in his career.
Unbeaten run
Consistency and determination are the greatest lessons of his 25-year managerial career, De la Fuente explained. Pointing out that losing was far more common than winning in football, he emphasised the need to work harder, with more energy and spirit, and to maintain an attitude of never surrendering in both sport and life. He said he had passed this message on to both his children and his players, telling them that while they might fall in life, they had to get back up.
That resilience has translated onto the pitch, with Spain currently on a 39-match unbeaten run. Their last official defeat came more than two years ago in a March 2024 friendly ahead of their successful European Championship campaign. While Spain did lose a Nations League final to Portugal on penalties during that period, the match is recorded as a draw in official statistics.
The team's hunger remains evident, recently highlighted by a comeback victory over England at Wembley Stadium in London. England had been the only top-ranked FIFA nation Spain had not faced during their successful World Cup campaign, and the win served as a statement of intent as the team began their journey with a second World Cup star on their shirts.
Squad rotation
De la Fuente must now navigate a demanding international calendar, expressing reservations about a format that requires Spain to play four matches in two weeks. He explained the technical staff tried to maintain a balanced team, but that the format's heavy travel and matches every four days would necessitate changes to refresh the side.
He expressed complete confidence in his 26-man squad, stating that any player was capable of starting or making an impact at any point in a match. He stressed that fresh energy would be required, particularly in certain positions on the pitch.
Highlighting the collective effort, De la Fuente said everyone in the squad was important. He referenced a recent statistic showing that substitutes introduced in the second half during his tenure had been the decisive players in the highest number of matches. He noted that the squad placed great importance on teamwork and possessed a strong collective spirit.
De la Fuente pointed out that players could be protagonists in the final minutes, as midfielder Mikel Merino had often demonstrated. He added that every squad member had earned their right to play, that everyone had a place in the starting line-up, and that they were a very good group of players.
Seville connections
The upcoming Nations League clash against Croatia marks a happy return to Nervión for De la Fuente, who holds fond memories of his time in the Andalusian capital as both a footballer and a young coach.
He revealed his family maintains strong ties to the Nervión neighbourhood where the stadium is located, noting that his son Alberto, who works on the national team's staff, is a member of the local San Benito brotherhood, a well-known confraternity that participates in Seville's Holy Week processions.
