Luis Enrique steps down as Spain head coach, to be replaced by Roberto Moreno

The former Barcelona boss has stepped aside from the helm of the national team for personal reaons.

The Spanish FA recently called a press conference to confirm what various trustworthy and reliable reports had been reporting for a while. Current manager Luis Enrique will be replaced by his assistant in the Spanish National Team, Roberto Moreno who will now be assuming full-time duties.

The decision does not come as a surprise since Luis Enrique missed all of Spain’s last few matches. He flew home a few hours before their second qualifying match against Malta. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) allowed him to miss out on the national camp with Luis ‘Lucho’ Enrique citing ‘personal reasons’ as the reason behind the leave. As a result, his number 2, Roberto Moreno oversaw the games against Malta, The Faroe Islands and Sweden.

Moreno and the RFEF believed that the 49 year-old would return soon but recent developments clearly suggest otherwise. It is still not clear why the former A.S. Roma, Celta de Vigo and FC Barcelona manager is stepping away but it is believed to be because of ongoing personal family issues.

Luis Enrique took over as manager of the national team 11 months ago succeeding Fernando Hierro. The former sporting director of the RFEF assumed the post following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui who had signed a contract with Real Madrid CF a day before the World Cup.

Enrique, who won the Olympic Games with the Spanish national team and represented both Real Madrid and Barcelona as a player, took charge of the UEFA Nations League campaign where Spain failed to qualify to the semi-finals.

La Roja won eight and lost two games out of 11 under Luis Enrique.

Roberto Moreno who has been Luis Enrique’s right hand man at Roma, Celta Vigo, Barcelona and the Spanish National Team is apparently liked by the national group and RFEF President Luis Rubiales announced that he would be the man to lead Spain in Euros 2020.

"Luis Enrique has announced he will not continue as coach," Rubiales said in a news conference on Wednesday. "It is his decision and we have to respect it.

"We have to thank Luis Enrique. We've learned a lot from him. We will continue to support him. He will always have the doors open in this federation. I ask the press to continue to respect him during this difficult time which is down to a personal issue.

"The decision of the RFEF is to put its trust on Robert Moreno, who will lead the us at Euro 2020. We are convinced he is the best choice in view of the situation we are in."

Roberto Moreno will take over Spain's Euro qualifier campaign

"It's a mixed feeling," Moreno said in Wednesday's news conference. "I'm sad but I feel the responsibility.

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"It's special circumstances and Luis Enrique wanted me to accept this role. I'm certain Spain will qualify for Euro 2020."

The players led by Roberto Moreno will return for national team duties in September when Spain are supposed to play Romania before hosting the Faroe Islands. La Roja lead their group having won all their games so far.