Spain have tied down Luis de la Fuente for the long haul, announcing a contract extension that keeps the head coach in charge until 2032 and replaces an agreement that had been set to run out in 2028.
The news arrives on the back of a remarkable run of success for the 65-year-old, who has transformed Spain into one of the most consistent sides in international football since taking over. His new deal ensures he will lead the national team into the 2030 World Cup, a tournament Spain will help host alongside Portugal and Morocco, with a small number of fixtures also taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the competition's 100th anniversary.
De la Fuente stepped into the role in December 2022, taking charge after Luis Enrique departed following Spain's disappointing last-16 elimination at that year's World Cup in Qatar. What followed has been one of the most productive spells in the federation's history. Spain have suffered just two defeats across 41 competitive fixtures under his stewardship, a stretch that has yielded three major trophies.
Among those triumphs was victory in the 2022-23 Nations League, followed by a fourth European Championship title in 2024, achieved with a 2-1 win over England in the final. That success was topped this past summer when Spain claimed their second World Cup crown, edging Argentina 1-0 after extra time. The only blemish on an otherwise gleaming record came in the 2024-25 Nations League, where Spain finished as runners-up to eventual winners Portugal.
RFEF president Rafael Louzan confirmed the extension while speaking at the World Football Summit in Madrid on Wednesday, praising the coach's contribution to the national team's resurgence. "His results speak for themselves, as does his work," Louzan said. "The public loves and admires him. I offered him an extension because he wasn't among the top 10 in terms of financial conditions. Now he will be."
Louzan added that the federation wanted to reward De la Fuente's loyalty and long service, noting his extensive history within the Spanish football setup. "We're finalising the agreement so he can remain for several more years," he said. "He's been with us 14 years, and I want him to be able to finish his career here."
De la Fuente's association with Spanish football stretches back well before his appointment as senior head coach. He began his coaching journey in the country's lower divisions before spending nearly a decade working within Spain's youth ranks. During that period, he guided the under-19 side to European Championship glory in 2015 and repeated the feat at under-21 level in 2019. He also led Spain's Olympic team to a silver medal at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, further building the reputation that eventually saw him entrusted with the senior job.
With his future now secured for years to come, De la Fuente will continue preparations for Spain's next assignment, a clash with England at Wembley on 26 September that opens their campaign in the 2026-27 Nations League. The federation will hope the extended stability at the helm helps Spain maintain their status among the world's elite as they look ahead to defending their World Cup title on home soil in 2030.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.