Spain national football team head coach Luis de la Fuente [Getty Images]
Spain national football team head coach Luis de la Fuente [Getty Images]

Luis de la Fuente, the 65-year-old coach who has ushered in a new golden era for Spain's "Armada," will remain in charge of the national team through 2032.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced it had extended De la Fuente's contract, which was previously set to run through 2028, by four years, according to Yonhap.

De la Fuente took charge of the Spain national team in December 2022.

If he sees out the new deal, he will have led the side for a decade.

He is also set to guide Spain at the 2030 World Cup, which the country will co-host with Portugal and Morocco.

Spain won the 2026 North and Central America World Cup under De la Fuente earlier this year.

Under his leadership, Spain lost just twice in 41 official matches, claiming three major trophies — the 2026 World Cup, Euro 2024 and the 2022-2023 UEFA Nations League.

De la Fuente began his coaching career in Spain's lower divisions before taking charge of Athletic Club Bilbao and Deportivo Alavés. From 2023, he led Spain's youth national teams.

He guided Spain to the European Under-19 Championship in 2015 and the European Under-21 Championship in 2019.

At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he led the side to a silver medal.

Spain defender Marc Cucurella had publicly vowed to tattoo De la Fuente's face on his body if Spain won the 2026 North and Central America tournament — and he made good on that promise shortly after the victory.

De la Fuente: 'Together, we are stronger'

After Spain won the 2026 World Cup in July, De la Fuente said he was "especially proud of this generation of players." "They grew together around a shared belief, developed it further, and showed what it means to be a team and a family," he said. "They are incredibly talented, and it has been a great honor to share this journey with them."

"We talked a lot together. We achieved everything we set out to achieve," De la Fuente added. "This generation is one that all of Spain can be proud of. Together, we are stronger."

Spain's latest triumph came 16 years after the country's first World Cup title at the 2010 South Africa tournament, making it the nation's second World Cup crown overall.

At 65 years and 28 days old at the time of the victory, De la Fuente also became the oldest winning coach in World Cup history.


yul@heraldcorp.com