Spain's big question marks after the 2022 World Cup
Enrique took over to replace his former team-mate Fernando Hierro after Spain were eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup. A year later, he resigned because his daughter Xanita was diagnosed with bone cancer in March 2019. died five months later.
But then, the 52-year-old coach returned and led Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2021, where the team lost to Italy in a penalty shootout. He and Spain avenged, defeated Italy 2-1 in the semi-finals, and then lost to France with the same score in the 2021 Nations League final.
After two successful tournaments, Spain suddenly dropped at the 2022 World Cup. On Qatar, Spain kicked in a rich and backward style, starting with a 7-0 win against Costa Rica, a 1-1 draw with Germany and then lost to Japan 1-2 in the group stage, before then lost to Morocco 0-3 in the penalty shootout in the 1/8 round. This defeat makes Spain the team with the most penalty shootouts in World Cup history.
At the end of November, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales admitted that Enrique could return to club football after the 2022 World Cup. Rubiales also revealed that the 52-year-old coach once turned down an attractive offer from a foreign club. Premier League in 2018, to lead the Spain team with a lower salary.
According to Marca, despite his contract with the RFEF, Enrique may "change course" and take a year off. This daily also does not rule out the possibility that the 52-year-old coach will return to work at the club level. He is considered a candidate to replace Diego Simeone, when Atletico fell from the beginning of the season - currently fifth in La Liga and eliminated from the Champions League group stage.
Enrique used to lead Barca from 2014-2017, winning two La Ligas, three King's Cups and a Champions League. In the 2014-2015 season, the Spanish coach helped Barca win the treble for the second time in history. Before that, he coached Celta Vigo, Roma and Barca B.
As a player, Enrique won a La Liga, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid. After moving to Barca in 1996, he won two more La Ligas, two King's Cups, a Spanish Super Cup, a C2 Cup and a European Super Cup. With Spain, he played 62 matches and scored 12 goals, participating in three World Cups 1994, 1998, 2002 and Euro 1996.
