Jorge Vilda has been dismissed as the head coach of the Spanish women’s national team by the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) today. This decision comes amidst a scandal involving RFEF President Luis Rubiales.
Vilda’s departure from the team comes after a disappointing performance in the recent Women’s Euro 2022 qualifiers. Spain failed to secure a spot in the tournament, finishing third in their qualifying group behind Sweden and Finland.
The decision to sack Vilda was made by Rubiales, who is currently facing his own controversy. Rubiales has been accused of misusing funds allocated for the development of women’s football in Spain. The allegations have led to an investigation by the RFEF’s Ethics Committee.
Rubiales has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to cooperate fully with the investigation. However, the scandal has cast a shadow over the RFEF and has raised questions about its commitment to promoting women’s football in the country.
Vilda had been in charge of the Spanish women’s team since 2015 and had achieved some success during his tenure. Under his leadership, Spain reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and won the Algarve Cup in 2017.
The RFEF has not yet announced a replacement for Vilda. In the meantime, the team will be led by interim coach Pedro López, who is currently the head coach of the U-19 women’s national team.
The dismissal of Vilda marks a significant moment for Spanish women’s football. It highlights the challenges faced by the sport in the country and raises important questions about the future direction of the national team.
As Spain looks ahead to the next major tournament, the focus will now be on finding a new coach who can lead the team to success and restore confidence in the women’s game. The RFEF will also need to address the allegations against Rubiales and take steps to ensure transparency and accountability within the organization.
