The coach of the Spanish team, Luis de la Fuente, traveled to London this Monday with the intention of attending the Ballon d'Or Gala, where he is expected to be the favorite candidate to receive the award as best coach of the year. At his side are the president of the RFEF, Rafael Louzán, and Aitor Karanka, director of the senior national team, who accompany him on the flight that arrives in the British capital around 12:30.
The Riojan has been considered the favorite to win the award, along with other high-profile coaches such as Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain, Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, Unai Emery of Aston Villa and Vincent Kompany of Bayern Munich. His candidacy is based on the recent achievements of the Spanish team, which includes winning the World Cup and the European Championship, and on the solid work structure that he has implemented in the team.
During the visit to the Las Rozas Football City, Aitor Karanka acted as ambassador of the delegation made up of representatives from UEFA, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF. The objective of the visit was to learn about the methodology and internal organization of the selection, which allowed the delegates to closely observe the success that de la Fuente's management has brought.
The trip to London occurs at a time when the Spanish team continues to establish itself as one of the powers in world football, and de la Fuente's presence at the Ballon d'Or Gala reinforces the perception that his work has had a significant impact on the team's performance. With the ceremony scheduled for the weekend, the expectation is that the coach will continue to leave his mark on the history of Spanish football.