Luis Enrique back as Spain boss, months after daughter’s death
Luis Enrique has been reappointed as Spain’s national team coach, five months after he left the job to spend more time with his family during his daughter’s battle with bone cancer.
The nine-year-old died in August.
Enrique had also been absent from the Spanish camp for three months before resigning in June.
His former assistant, Robert Moreno, had taken over duties in Enrique’s absence and guided Spain to Euro 2020 qualification but he will leave his role immediately to make way for the returning boss.
“Luis Enrique had our promise that he had the doors of the national team open since the moment he left,” said Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
“This is a project that started with the qualification of the Euro and will continue until the Qatar World Cup and we want to wish Luis Enrique a happy return to his job.”
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‘We have to thank him’
Moreno took charge of his last match during Spain’s 5-0 win against Romania Monday but there were already reports that he would be departing to make way for his Enrique.
Rubiales reiterated that the door had always been open for Enrique’s return and thanked Moreno for his spell in charge.
“We were really happy with Robert’s work, we’ve said it,” added Rubiales.
“We think he’s worked really well and as such, we have to thank him for his work here. But the leader of this project, who started it and who came with his staff, was Luis Enrique.”
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Previous success
Enrique, who played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, enjoyed huge success as head coach at Camp Nou, winning the La Liga title, domestic cup and Champions League in 2015.
His first spell in charge of the national team started in July 2018 after the team’s catastrophic World Cup.
He signed a two-year deal and replaced interim boss Fernando Hierro, who took the job after Julen Lopetegui was sacked two days before the team’s first game in Russia.
