Luis de la Fuente gave an insight into his schedule as the Spain head coach at the European Championship when speaking on the radio station Cope last week.
“We’ve very little free time,” De la Fuente said. “I get up early, I have my routines, my workout. From 9am we are operating until 1, 2, 3 or 4am. So I don’t sleep much — some days three hours, others four, others five. I can have a nap after eating, but not much.”
Advertisement
Incredulous host Juanma Castano assumed tensions and stresses of the tournament were keeping him awake in bed.
“Not at all,” De la Fuente said. “There’s a lot of work to do. There is little time between games. Our games have to be analysed, opponents’ too, team talks have to be prepared, training sessions, individual work for the players…”
For genetic reasons, some human beings do not need as much sleep as most. Researchers at UC San Francisco found in March 2022 that “elite sleepers” get all the benefits they need from four to five hours of sleep a night.
Other high-achievers through modern history have boasted of an ability to get by on very little sleep, from Thomas Edison, Margaret Thatcher and Richard Branson to Donald Trump.
The Spanish FA has clarified that De la Fuente’s sleep pattern is normal at home. But he works late each night during tournaments, then catches up with a short siesta after lunch or naps while travelling on the team bus.
“Four hours sleep… well, people say that a lot, but then the reality is different,” Spanish sleep expert Oriol Mercade tells The Athletic. “Maybe he’s saying, ‘Look what a hard worker I am’. But generally, it’s not a good idea, not for productivity, nor for health. After sleeping well, leaders have more charisma, leadership and capacity to persuade.”
Despite their coach’s sleep habits, De la Fuente’s players have looked fresh and vigorous at these Euros. Spain topped their group, beat Georgia 4-1, then overcame Germany and France, winning both 2-1, to make a first major international final since 2012.
Ahead of Sunday’s decider against England, The Athletic spoke to those who know the low-profile 63-year-old who, after a tough start as Spain coach, is now hitting the heights.
Born in the famous wine-producing La Rioja town of Haro in 1961, De la Fuente moved into Athletic Bilbao’s Lezama academy aged 16. He was a tough-tackling left-back and won La Liga twice with Athletic. De la Fuente later played for Sevilla and Alaves.
His coaching career began at Basque youth clubs Portugalete and Aurrera in the late 1990s. He passed through Sevilla’s academy, before returning to Lezama and eventually coaching its Bilbao Athletic reserve side. Then came his only experience as a senior club manager — 11 games with Alaves in the Segunda B third tier in 2011.
Advertisement
In 2013, De la Fuente was hired as Spain’s under-19 manager by then-federation president Angel Maria Villar, a former team-mate at San Mames. Two years later, he guided a team including Rodri, Mikel Merino and Marco Asensio to the 2015 Under-19 European Championship, then won the 2019 Under-21 Euros with Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Unai Simon in the squad. With Pedri and Marc Cucurella added to the group, Spain claimed silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Part of De la Fuente’s role with the federation was to educate coaches at the federation’s base at Las Rozas near Madrid. The 2017 group included current Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola and Lionel Scaloni, who would manage Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup.
“Professor Luis de la Fuente was my teacher when I took my coaching courses,” Scaloni told The Athletic during the current Copa America. “Luis helped all of us young guys who took that course. He’s a great guy, I enjoy how he expresses himself, how he handles himself, how his players are devoted to him.”
Meanwhile, De la Fuente was never really considered for a coaching job in La Liga, nor did he push for one. His personality and way of working fit better at Las Rozas. Few there considered him a likely senior international manager, until then-federation president Luis Rubiales wanted a change after a disastrous World Cup 2022 under Luis Enrique’s very personal and combative style of leadership. De la Fuente’s style was quite the opposite; he was also available and affordable, unlike alternatives with top CVs such as Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery.
“I didn’t expect it,” De la Fuente told TV show El Hormiguero soon after taking the job in December 2022. “I thought Luis Enrique was going to continue. But Rubiales has always supported me, and he told me he wanted me to be national coach. And here I am.”
De la Fuente soon got his first taste of the media challenges of the job when he decided against recalling former captain Sergio Ramos for his first squad. Madrid-based reporters took Ramos’ side during a couple of uncomfortable press conferences.
Then Spain were beaten 2-0 by Scotland in their second Euro 2024 qualifier in March 2023. The result was a shock. The fact De la Fuente’s team were completely outplayed by Steve Clarke’s Scotland was even worse.
Advertisement
Many in the media, and within the federation’s hierarchy, began to wonder whether De la Fuente was really up to the job. Firm support from Rubiales came only after Spain had edged past Italy and Croatia to win last June’s Nations League. But De la Fuente himself did not have many sleepless nights, trusting in the collective processes and behaviours which had worked for him at the under-age level.
Then came Rubiales’ disgraceful behaviour at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. De La Fuente entered that nightmare by standing to applaud his boss’ infamous ‘I will not resign’ speech, a few days after Rubiales had kissed Jenni Hermoso without her consent, and just hours before FIFA moved to suspend him from all football activity.
“I’ve received very strong criticism, which is totally deserved,” De la Fuente said in his next public appearance. “I’m sorry and I apologise. I applauded because of the context, the atmosphere, the pressure. I’d never experienced any situation so stressful and emotional.”
While distancing himself from Rubiales was necessary, the main priority was for the men’s national team not to suffer by association. “The most important thing for us is to qualify for the Euros,” he said before September’s qualifier in Georgia. “I believe Spain is with us in that too.” In the end, outside criticism of a lack of support for their female counterparts helped to bond the male squad together with their coach.
De la Fuente then faced anger from many at Barcelona when teenage midfielder Gavi was seriously injured in a 3-1 qualifier win at home to Georgia last November. Not being super popular at Camp Nou or Bernabeu was not necessarily a negative as most hard-core Spain national team fans support smaller clubs, with the Clasico duo more focused on their own successes or failures.
De la Fuente telling newspaper AS last autumn that he was “super proud to be Spanish, Catholic and a bullfighting fan” was an honest personal opinion. He is devoutly religious and a believer in traditional values. It was also a reading of the national mood amid loud political protests at the Socialist-led government relying on support from Catalan nationalists, and his reputation with Spanish conservatives was boosted.
By the time Spain had wrapped up qualification as group winners last November, concerns over De la Fuente’s tactical knowledge had given way to an appreciation for his cohesive approach. Those who know him, however, vehemently deny he is a soft touch. He had a long relationship with Dani Ceballos but cut the Real Madrid playmaker after issues with Barcelona players in the national camp. He ignored pressure from Madrid’s Brahim Diaz for inclusion, not being bothered when Diaz instead declared for Morocco. Real Betis’ former Leicester and Newcastle attacker Ayoze Perez did not have as much individual talent but was a better fit with the squad.
Advertisement
“Luis is a very friendly guy, with very clear ideas,” Spain vice-captain Oyarzabal told The Athletic from Spain’s pre-tournament camp at Las Rozas in early June. “He always says the team is really important, the union of everyone. The play and tactics depend on each game and each opponent. But it’s very important for everyone to go in the same direction, to be united, to support each other. Then it’s easier for things to go well.”
De la Fuente’s successful underage squad camps were also really united. Family members who travelled as supporters to international tournaments felt included when asked to record motivational videos for their kids. When De la Fuente’s birthday fell during the 2019 Under-21 Euros in Italy, he bought beers for reporters in the team hotel. As a senior coach, he has built personal relationships with high-profile Spanish reporters. De la Fuente has held one-on-one conversations with them and addresses reporters by their first names at press conferences.
Building close bonds with federation staff is another priority. After every national team camp, he sends personal WhatsApp messages to every individual member — whether chef, security guard or trainee. At Spain’s Euros base in Germany’s Black Forest, he strikes up conversations with staff members in all instances, including when he is on the way to the gym for his regular early-morning workout. That routine has continued this month despite knee and shoulder problems which may require surgery this summer.
Such tightness and drive has been crucial for Spain during their time in Germany. When a player has felt criticism from the media, such as questions over centre-back Aymeric Laporte’s preparation for the tournament, De la Fuente has had their back in public and private.
“It’s crucial for a player to feel this protection,” French-born Laporte told The Athletic from Spain’s Donaueschingen camp. “If I am this happy while representing Spain, it’s because of such details. When you feel this trust, you end up playing freely and showing your best game. Man-management is definitely one of De la Fuente’s strongest assets.”
Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old sensation, has been carefully looked after by team-mates, coaches and federation staff, and has responded tremendously. Everyone else is treated as a responsible adult and De la Fuente is honest with them, making sure even squad members with limited pitch time feel important.
“The first day I joined the squad, I told him that, for me, the most important thing was daily life and harmony with the team,” back-up striker Joselu told The Athletic earlier in the tournament. “Keeping it all healthy and competitive. He totally agreed with me. I think he’s built a family here, which is basically what has brought us to this point. We’ve won the Nations League on the way, and the human group assembled here has been the difference-maker.”
There have been reminders of past issues, however. Meeting Georgia in the round of 16 recalled Spain’s qualifier in Tbilisi last September, the first game after Rubiales’ resignation. Amid chaos at the federation, a private plane had to be chartered after players’ boots were left behind in Madrid, but the team won 7-1, with Yamal scoring on his debut and Nico Williams establishing himself on the other wing.
“That was where we started to talk about the ‘family’,” De La Fuente said in recollection before the 4-1 last-16 victory. “We had to go through very emotional moments. We came out of it much stronger.”
Spain’s emergence through this tournament as a top team playing super attractive football has been a surprise to many, including within the federation and around the squad.
De la Fuente’s emergence as an outstanding coach and leader has also been a revelation, especially considering the challenges and missteps of his early months in the job.
Advertisement
Through it all he has kept a tight focus on what he felt was most important for success, setting aside issues such as getting enough sleep each night. And a squad he knows and trusts have kept rising to each challenge.
After the semi-final win over France, De la Fuente waited by the tunnel to hug his players, one by one, including those who had not featured, such as injured midfielder Pedri.
“You always have to believe in this team,” the Basque said in the post-game news conference. “Individually they are fantastic but they always work for the common good, they are generous in their efforts. They are insatiable, with a drive to come through problems. I have faith, and I’m proud to manage these players.”
The four days between semi-final and final will also be packed with planning and work. It’s unlikely De la Fuente will get more than four or five hours’ sleep each night, but he will not miss his early morning work-out, and he will be keeping the entire Spain ‘family’ focused on what they need to do to win on Sunday in Berlin.
Once the tournament is over there will be time for rest and recovery. So much has happened during De la Fuente’s 20 months as senior national coach. It will all have been worth it if the most unlikely and understated national coach in Spanish football history pulls off the dream of leading La Roja to another international trophy.
(Top photo: THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images)