Ahead of Spain's World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Belgium, this BBC Sport feature profiles manager Luis de la Fuente and the culture he has cultivated. Spain are chasing a rare feat: holding the World Cup and European Championship simultaneously, something achieved only three times before — by Spain in 2010, France in 2000 and West Germany in 1974. It matters because it would confirm the enduring strength of a footballing identity built over decades within the Spanish federation, rather than the vision of a single manager.

De la Fuente, 65, took charge in January 2023, won Euro 2024 and has lost only three matches since, currently on a 35-game unbeaten run. The article stresses his people-focused philosophy — that football is a team sport "built by good people" who are selfless and disciplined — alongside a possession style with flexibility. Having coached within the federation's youth system since 2013, he knows his players intimately, and has added versatility, depth and solidity while keeping Spain "the easiest team to analyse" but "the hardest to beat". He also emphasises emotional control, learned from past defeats, and describes managing teenage star Lamine Yamal by staying calm and giving him confidence.