De la Fuente on Verge of Historic Feat, Uniting European and World Titles
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Spain's national football team coach Luis de la Fuente is on the verge of a historic achievement, potentially uniting European and world titles.
- De la Fuente has led Spain to six finals since 2015, winning four, including the recent Euro 2024.
- His coaching career includes notable victories and a past defeat against Croatia in a U21 championship.
Luis de la Fuente, the 65-year-old coach of the Spanish national football team, stands on the brink of a historic milestone. With a potential World Cup victory in New Jersey, he could become only the third manager in football history to simultaneously hold both the European and World Championship titles.
He will have the opportunity to become only the third coach in the history of football to unite the European and world titles.
De la Fuente's track record since 2015 is impressive, having guided Spain to six finals across various age groups and senior competitions. His triumphs include the U19 Euro in 2015, the U21 Euro in 2019, and the recent Euro 2024 title. He also secured a Nations League title in 2023, though he experienced a loss in the 2025 final and a defeat in the 2021 Olympic final.
His coaching prowess places him among the elite managers of the 21st century, alongside figures like Vicente del Bosque, Joachim Lรถw, and Didier Deschamps. However, De la Fuente's history with Croatia is not entirely one-sided. In 2021, his U21 Spanish team eliminated Croatia in the quarterfinals of the European Championship before losing to Portugal in the semifinals. He also defeated Croatia in the Nations League final via penalties.
Thus, De la Fuente already ranks among the greatest European coaches of the 21st century.
The article highlights De la Fuente's tactical acumen and his ability to inspire his teams, particularly noting his success in high-pressure finals. His journey to this potential crowning achievement is a testament to his consistent performance and strategic leadership on the international stage.
He stated that the team showed mental stability and character, and that they never give up.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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