Luis Enrique has left his job as Spain's national team coach, with his assistant Robert Moreno being handed the role of taking them to Euro 2020.
Enrique had missed Spain's recent international games against Malta, the Faroe Islands and Sweden for reasons of a personal nature, and he has now told the national governing body that he wanted to relinquish his role as head coach.
Spain have taken the surprising step of handing the reins to Enrique's long-time assistant Moreno, who has been his number two at Barcelona, Roma and Spain, but has never been a head coach in his own right.
It's been a turbulent time for Spain in terms of managers with Moreno now becoming the fourth man in charge in a year, with the spell starting with Julen Lopetegui's controversial departure just before the 2018 World Cup after he had agreed to join Real Madrid.
Fernando Hierro took charge during the World Cup before Enrique was given the job in July 2018, but his personal circumstances have seen him end his spell in just under a year.
⚠ OFICIAL | Robert Moreno, nuevo seleccionador de la @SeFutbol.
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) June 19, 2019
¡Mucha suerte, míster!#UnidosPorUnRETO
ℹ Más info: https://t.co/ArSXJR5JI9 pic.twitter.com/1LaSSm1Cxc
Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales revealed the news at a press conference, saying: "Luis Enrique has informed us that he will not continue as a selector. I have to thank him. We don't have the slightest reproach. We've been united with him."
"The decision is to trust Robert Moreno as a coach. It will remain the same duration of the contract that was already signed. They will be in charge of taking us to Euro 2020 and making a good role if we qualify."
It represents something of a risk by Spain to give Moreno the job of guiding them to Euro 2020, but they had decided to let him fulfill the contract signed by Enrique.
"I want to thank you for the trust you place in us. It's a bittersweet day. I didn't expect to be the head coach this way. Let's work trying to leave at the top the work that Luis started," said Moreno.
"I've spent nine years with Luis Enrique training the best in the world and watching his decisions. He instilled in me the knowledge of the players. We're going to do a great job.
"It is a responsibility and an honour to be able to defend my country's selection from the bench. More when you've been in this for so many years. It started as a passion and now it's my profession."
