Luis de la Fuente has been awarded the Coach of the Year prize at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

His honour in London is the logical culmination of a monumental achievement: transforming the Spanish national team into an indestructible machine and restoring it to its rightful place at the very pinnacle of world football.

The coach from La Rioja has crafted a true ‘signature team’, characterised by dominance in possession, relentless vertical aggression and a suffocating tempo.

A formidable side that perfectly combines youthful vigour with the experience of established stars, displaying unassailable solidity across all lines.

A World Cup to remember

Luis de la Fuente’s philosophy reached its zenith at the 2026 World Cup, where Spain marched to the trophy with overwhelming superiority.

His team conceded just one goal throughout the tournament (in that tight encounter against Belgium), neutralising every opponent that stood in their way to the title.

On their path to glory, Spain defeated top-tier powers such as France and Argentina – two of the most dominant teams on the international stage – with unquestionable authority.

This triumph definitively cemented Luis de la Fuente’s status as one of the most influential managers on the planet.

An unprecedented unbeaten run

HIs triumph furthermore was underpinned by a record that defies all previous records: 42 consecutive international matches without defeat.

Luis de la Fuente’s national team achieved the longest unbeaten run ever seen in international football, an unprecedented milestone in the history of the sport.

The statistic accurately reflects the success of a comprehensive project.

Since he took the reins of the national team in 2023, ‘La Roja’ have enjoyed a golden era, winning the UEFA Nations League (2022–23), the European Championship (2024) and the World Cup (2026).

Under De la Fuente’s guidance, Spain not only returned to the pinnacle of world football but also re-established the undisputed dominance of its golden era, back in 2010.

Today, the Coach of the Year award recognises the unwavering conviction of a quiet leader who restored his country to greatness.

Congratulations, manager.