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DPA
Barcelona
The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that Luis Enrique would return to his job as Spain coach up to, and including, the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
“Luis Enrique wants to, and I am grateful that he does, take charge of Spain until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar,” said Rubiales.
“We sat here in June to say that (Robert) Moreno was taking over (from Luis Enrique) but we have always been very transparent that the door was open for Luis Enrique if he wanted to come back,” he added.
Moreno was assistant coach with Spain but he took charge in June when Luis Enrique resigned to care for his nine-year-old daughter before she died of bone cancer in August.
Rubiales said he first became aware of Luis Enrique’s desire to return when he was told by Moreno.
He then met with Luis Enrique on October 31 when the 49-year-old confirmed his intention.
Rubiales said: “We then wanted to talk to all parties once the qualification for the Euros had ended.”
Spain thrashed Romania 5-0 on Monday in their final Euro 2020 qualifier. Moreno succeeded in guiding the team to top spot in qualifying Group F.
And Rubiales said the plan for a smooth transition back to Luis Enrique never came to fruition because of events leading up to that last match.
On Sunday there was an exchange between Spain’s director of football Jose Francisco Molina and Moreno in which the coach asked to know what was happening.
He was told everything would be sorted out after the qualification matches were completed.
But he then sent a message on Monday to Rubiales saying that he wanted to leave “so as not to impede the return of Luis Enrique”.
Rubiales said he responded to that message by calling Luis Enrique on Monday to offer him the job.
“Luis Enrique said yes, immediately and he thanked us for keeping our word,” Rubiales said.
Rubiales said that he had wanted to meet face to face with Moreno on Tuesday morning but the coach had declined to attend the federation headquarters and sent two lawyers in his place.
Rubiales defended RFEF saying: “Luis Enrique left his job for the worst possible situation that a father can face.”
The press conference did not clear up what had happened between Luis Enrique and Robert Moreno that meant they could not go back to their previous arrangement of head coach and assistant.
Rubiales was asked repeatedly to spread some light on the matter but he said: “That’s their personal relationship, we can’t answer that.”
He added: “This is his project. Tragedy interrupted it but he is now back.”
Rubiales said he did not know when Luis Enrique would sit down before the media and confirm his new coaching staff.
He said there were no plans for Luis Enrique to attend the European Championship draw on November 30.
Asked if he felt RFEF had “destroyed” Moreno’s career. Rubiales said: “We always made it clear the door was open (for Luis Enrique to retun).
“He (Moreno) is now is a coach with a name. This situation has been generated by Robert because he decided to go on the day of last game.
We did not want it that way but we respect his decision.”
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20/11/2019
636