White, heterosexual – and on top of that, a devout Catholic. The “woke” Spanish politicians who were only interested in Euro 2024 in the color of the skin and the countries of origin of the parents of the two young Spanish dribbling artists Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal (“it was anti-fascist and anti-racist pride”. former minister and now felt MEP). There is no doubt that the media aura of Guardiola, Ancelotti or Klopp did not surround him before the European Championships, but that was clearly not enough to his detriment.
To create a team from a squad of exceptional individual players who earn their living in Spain, France, England, Germany and Saudi Arabia, not only football tactics count, but also a human format. At this point, everyone agrees that the success of the Spanish national team is mainly due to Luis de Fuente’s ability to integrate – and faith also plays a vital role.
Frank’s testimony
The coach speaks openly about his faith in God. Like when he quickly explained to a journalist the difference between faith and superstition, or at the press conference before the final when a journalist asked him: “We atheists respect the relationship of believers with God, but we don’t understand completely: where is God and faith, when there is a final game and you have to give everything to win?” De la Fuente answered just as enthusiastically: “I understand that very well, because I feel the same about atheists, exactly the same,” as they say. make the participants laugh. And he continued: “I am free and I can choose what I want to do. My intellect and my experiences invite me to believe in God and it gives me a lot of security and strength. I pray every day.”
Images of the coach praying in front of the famous Christ “the last breath” (“El Cachorro”) in Seville. Archbishop José Ángel Saiz Meneses of Seville expressed this on social media after winning the title: “Congratulations to everyone, especially to coach Luis de la Fuente, a man of great faith who has no complexes in expressing his faith and in public. to express his commitment to the ‘Cachorro’. He understood how to express faith, humility, the value of the team over individuality, the spirit of sacrifice, effort and trust.”
Piety is part of his identity
In an interview in 2023, de la Fuente admitted that he had “many doubts” throughout his life and that he was “far from faith”. “But at a certain point in my life I decided to be closer to God again and rely on him in everything I do. There is not just one reason, but a thousand reasons to believe in God. Without God, nothing in life has meaning.”
He described religion as a natural part of his life. “I grew up with a set of values that I try to implement in my life. In my freedom I do what I believe I have to do. Of course always respectful. I respect him as much as I claim to respect him.”
For de la Fuente, his Catholic piety is an inseparable part of his identity and approach as a coach, showing that spirituality can be a powerful ally in the world of sport.
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