PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWSTearful number two steps aside for Luis Enrique
Robert Moreno
PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWSW
hat should
have been
a positive
story – Luis
Enrique’s
triumph
over
tragedy – turned into a public relations
disaster for the Spanish federation when
stand-in Robert Moreno stepped aside to
allow Luis Enrique to return as national-
team coach ahead of the summer’s Euro
2020 finals.
Luis Enrique stood down in June for
personal reasons, revealing two months
later that his nine-year-old daughter
Xana had died following a five-month
battle with bone cancer.
Moreno – Luis Enrique’s long-time
friend and assistant at Roma, Celta Vigo
and Barcelona – oversaw qualification
initially as interim coach but was then
confirmed in a permanent role in
September. He was unbeaten in nine
games, winning seven games and
drawing the other two.
After Spain’s final qualifier, a 5-0 win
over Romania in Madrid, Moreno was
reportedly in tears as he explained his
departure to his players. “They’ve tossed
me aside,” he was said to have shouted
according to Marca.
Moreno did not attend a meeting at
federation headquarters the following
morning, instead sending lawyers to
represent him.
At a press conference later that day,
federation president Luis Rubiales was at
pains to insist that Luis Enrique’s returnhad the blessing of his former assistant,
stating: “It was clear that in the moment
that Luis Enrique felt strong to return,
the door was always open for him. I have
always said that and have always been
honest, nobody can feel tricked.”
Rubiales then went on to say: “The
first person who knew that Luis Enrique
wanted to return, even before us at the
federation, was Robert Moreno.
“We want to thank Robert Moreno
for his work. He did very well and we are
very happy with what he did. We found
out through Moreno that Luis Enrique
wanted to come back.
“We have always acted with respect
and transparency, and we have kept our
word. The federation has acted coherently
with everyone. We are loyal to Luis Enrique
and the person who occupied his job.
“Luis Enrique stepped down for the
worst possible thing that can happen in
a family. He has always been the leader
of our project and has a contract until the
World Cup in Qatar.”
When Moreno had been confirmed in
a permanent role he indicated that he
would be prepared to give way for Luis
Enrique to return at a future date, saying:
“I consider Luis a friend and friendship
comes first. If he wants to return one day,
I’ll be happy to step aside.”
Luis Enrique’s return to the dugout
means that Spain have now had five
coaching changes in the past 18 months:
Julen Lopetegui, Fernando Hierro, Luis
Enrique, Moreno, and now Luis Enrique
once again.
John HolmesdaleChelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2004,
when he commented: “Tottenham might
as well have put the team bus in front of
their goal.”
And what next for Pochettino, who
only had a net spend of £109m over
five-and-a-half years in North London
but had also warned about the need to
rebuild the side, even before last season’s
Champions League run?
Armed with a personal £12m pay-
off, thanks to Levy, Tottenham longest-
serving manager since Keith Burkinshaw
will not be short of suitors willing to invest
in the 47-year-old, who will doubtlessly
be linked with the footballing financial
heavyweights of Europe, with Bayern
Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester
United and possibly Barcelona and Real
Madrid all interested in his services.
Gavin Hamilton
Goodbye...Moreno
and Sergio Ramos