Manager Watch: 5 Options for Spain
One hundred games, a trophy trail and a legacy to die for. Vicente Del Bosque has been the very embodiment of everything that the Spanish National Team has stood for over the last years. Taking over from Luis Aragones, whose Euro 2008 victory set Spain up for a period of success, there was perhaps not widespread belief that Vicente Del Bosque would lead Spain into an era of unimagined domination over World Football.
Two major trophies in the coming years under the man, however, set Spain up as the best team in the world over the next few years as they stormed through World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012. During this team, Spain’s obsessive displays saw teams struggle to match their technical quality and determination to win. Vicente Del Bosque needs to be given great credit, not only in unlocking Spain’s potential, but also in leading a transitional phase through a very dark time.
World Cup 2014 was a disaster and Spain’s exit an absolute embarrassment to a team with an ageing core and periphery. Del Bosque could’ve quit during the time and walked away from the turbulence that was to follow, but he stayed on. Today, Spain take a bright mix of youthful talent and older heads into Euro 2016. A tournament which Del Bosque has admitted, is hoping to be his last hurrah.
Del Bosque has already announced his intention of leaving the hot seat, leaving with the Spanish Football Federation with the tough task of naming a successor. Here, we’ve had a look at the options they have before them.
#1 Unai Emery
Unai Emery is a wanted man. A whole host of teams in club football want him to be their guiding light. Young, efficient and prone to success, Emery is the obvious choice for a range of clubs in Europe. There have been suggestions that Emery is seen in a similar light by the Spanish Football Federation as well.
There is a great sense of pride that Spain takes in the heritage each of their coaches belong to and Unai Emery, of Basque heritage holds great standing in the mind of the likes of Angel Maria Villar, the President of the Spanish Football Federation.
Manager-Team Match Rating – 3/5
A knockout tournament specialist as is evident from the numerous cup runs and three Europa League titles he has led Sevilla to, Emery could be seen as the perfect manager to take the national team forward. He is young, a master of a tactician and is capable of extracting the best out of an individual by extracting from them a mental strength only few can. Emery could be a perfect fit for the next generation of Spanish stars.
However, his relative inexperience of handling big names is up for debate. He is a keen match for the Spanish side but his appointment won’t be a no-brainer considering the last cycle of transition the new manager needs to oversee as the big names of Spanish Football bow out.
Rumor Rating – 3/5
There’s lot of noise about this possible line of ascension to the throne. Emery has his range of admirers in the Federation too but Sevilla hold the cards for this play. A contract that runs till 2017 could suggest that Spain will move on at least immediately till the current contract holds. The move isn’t as likely as it is favoured but Emery could be worth the tiff for the Spanish Federation.