Real Madrid stole their coach before the start of the World Cup, now they brought in a man who hates the "royal club" from the bottom of his soul, even though he used to play there - the leaders of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chose Luis as the new leader of the "red fury" Enrique.
One of the 15 players who wore the shirt of both Barcelona and Real (just like Julen Lopetegui) became famous as a coach of the Catalans, because he won the Champions League, the European Super Cup, the Club World Cup, two Primera Ligas, three Copa del Reys and the Spanish Super Cup.
"Luis Rubiales showed that he makes his own decisions, because he did not choose a coach either according to the wishes of the players or according to the taste of the journalists. If Luis Enrique hates Real Madrid, that's the least of his problems. He has character, he says what he thinks and doesn't want to be friends with journalists. He is a great coach, probably the best he could hire, and that is the most important thing," wrote "Marka" columnist Jesus Sanchez.
What does Enrique bring to the failing "La Rioja", which ruled the world from 2008 to 2012, and then was eliminated in the group of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and in the round of 2016 of Euro XNUMX and the World Cup in Russia? Big results as proof of class, but also a long list of conflicts with journalists, rivals, even his players, to whom he clearly wanted to make it clear who was the boss.
He was certainly a much better candidate than Quique Sanchez Flores, Michel, Roberto Sanchez and Quique Setien, who were "pushed" by the media (RFEF President Rubiales said he did not negotiate with anyone but Enrique), but the question is how he will cope with the locker room leaders.
His grumpiness could be a problem when he finds himself in the same room as Sergio Ramos and Diego Costa, although he has proven he can "beat" the biggest - he was on the verge of being sacked by Barcelona in January 2015 for falling out with Lionel Messi, but then pushed the Argentine to the right side of the attack and won the Champions League.
By the way, he angered Spain's first left back Jordi Alba when he often left him on the bench in his last season in the "Blaugrana".
He also had numerous clashes with the media, and Rubiales is aware of all this and decided to hire him.
"We don't live in a soap bubble and we know very well that he is a person with a very strong character and that he had problems with journalists. But the national team is something else and we expect everything to go well. It is necessary for the atmosphere to be good in and around the team, but Luis Enrique came so that Spain would win. That is the most important thing," Rubiales said.
The RFEF first man revealed that the new coach has turned down great offers from some clubs.
"The decision of the Board of Directors was unanimous. Enrique had a great desire to become the coach of Spain. He turned down much more lucrative offers to take over the national team. He fulfills all the conditions we were looking for for a new coach," said Rubiales.
Enrique was linked with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal this summer but turned them down. After leaving Barcelona, he devoted himself to the very demanding Ironman competition, in which he swims 3,86 kilometers without interruption, rides a bicycle 180,25 and runs a marathon, so some thought that he was no longer interested in football. However, he was just waiting for the right opportunity.
"It would be very cool to be the coach of Spain," Enrique said last year.
Now he got a chance to raise the sleeping giant to his feet...
They will have their first opportunity to prove themselves on September 8 at the start of the UEFA Nations League against England at "Wembley", and three days later they will welcome Gord Albion's rival Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals in Elće.
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