Who is Luis de la Fuente? Spain head coach in FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals
Luis de la Fuente leads Spain in the World Cup semi-finals against France.
Spain have justified their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. La Roja have booked their place in the semi-finals. There they are scheduled to take on France on July 14 (BST).
Instead of relying on a singular superstar like many of the other teams in the competition, the Spanish side have utilised the full strength of their squad. The likes of Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal have delivered the goods. Meanwhile, midfielder Mikel Merino has emerged as an unlikely source of goals from the bench.
La Roja are now in line to progress to the World Cup final for only the second time in their history. Behind this incredible success is their head coach, Luis de la Fuente. He has led the Spanish national team all the way from the youth side to the senior team.
Also Read: ‘Best in the world’ – Spain star picks Lamine Yamal over Kylian Mbappe
Luis de la Fuente Profile
Starting his playing career as a left-back, De la Fuente spent most of his career with Athletic Bilbao, making 146 appearances for the Basque side. He also represented his national team once in the 1988 Olympic Games.
After retiring at the age of 33, he started his managerial career with the youth sides of Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao. He was appointed the head coach of the Spain U-19 side in 2013. He was promoted to the U-21 and U-23 sides before taking the reins of the senior team in 2022, replacing the outgoing Luis Enrique.
He delivered immediately, winning the UEFA Nations League in 2023. He then won the UEFA European Championship in 2024, with La Roja beating England 2-1 in the final. After signing a new contract, he has now enjoyed success at the biggest stage of all, leading his nation to the semi-finals for the first time since 2010.
Who is Luis de la Fuente?
He is a 65‑year‑old former left‑back who played for Athletic Bilbao and later transitioned into coaching. He rose through Spain’s youth teams before taking charge of the senior side in 2022.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.