Luis Enrique: Former Barcelona manager steps down as Spain boss

Luis Enrique has stepped down as Spain boss due to personal reasons. 

Luis Enrique has stepped down as Spain boss due to ‘personal reasons’. The former Barcelona boss will be replaced by his assistant Robert Moreno as the manager of the national side.

The 49-year-old has been in charge of La Roja for over a year and failed to take them further in the UEFA Nations League. England advanced from their group, but he was not pressurized because of the successful Tiki-Taka football. The fans were grinning about the attractive football, but the main man has ejected himself.

The philosophy will stay the same under his assistant. Luis Enrique was not present in the last three games because of the ongoing personal issues. He was also absent for the game against Malta in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers. When asked, the board cited the same reason.

However, Luis Enrique has pondered about the prospect of stepping down, has divulged his announcement today.

Speaking at a press conference, Rubiales said: “Luis Enrique announces that he will not continue as coach, and you have respected this situation a lot and continue to respect him in the same way.

“I have to thank Luis Enrique, he has been with the Federation. We will always have the doors of the Federation and the National Team open.”

Enrique was appointed as the permanent boss after an unsuccessful interim stint for Fernando Hierro during the World Cup, when he succeeded Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked after the board’s knowledge of Real Madrid’s negotiations before the kick off of the World Cup.

New coach Moreno vowed to continue Enrique’s work and added “It’s a bittersweet day, I dreamed of becoming a head coach one day but not in this way.

“We are very responsible for the work entrusted to us, we will try to continue with the work we have done with Luis in the distance, we want to leave Luis’s work at the top.”

Here’s how Twitter has reacted..

What’s next?

This will come as a huge blow for Spain national team, who have successfully played their brand of football which was lacking over the past few years.