Minutes before receiving an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Murcia, Luis de la Fuente turned the focus to Spain, the national team and the standing of LaLiga. He said the World Cup was “a milestone for an entire country, for an entire people”, and described LaLiga as “the most important competition in the world”.
Spain as a national message
De la Fuente said he wanted people to feel proud of the country, its roots and what Spanish football represents beyond the pitch. That framing fitted the setting at UCAM's Official Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year, where he was being honoured for his work.
He also said Murcia was one of the places that best received the national team two years ago. The line sat naturally alongside his broader point that Spain's success belongs to more than the dressing room.
The Ballon d'Or nomination
The other thread was his Best Coach nomination for the Ballon d'Or. De la Fuente said he was already proud simply to be there, and added that any award would belong to “a wonderful work group” and “exceptional footballers”, not to him alone.
That view matched the tone of his wider comments. Spain are top of Group H on 7 points from 3 matches, with 5 goals scored and 0 conceded, so the national mood he described is not being carried by talk alone. Five straight wins across World Cup and UEFA Nations League matches have given the message some weight.
The nomination list also puts him in elite company, with Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique among the other coaches named. De la Fuente did not try to separate himself from that group. He treated the nomination as recognition for the staff around him as much as for the work on the touchline.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
