'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAkh7/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAECEAAAAH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAgEAABBAEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBRIABiEiFFKy/9oACAEBAAE/AGaNqDtODZSIUJ5maBRMH2sSAgVCzEk9sl15rDfRK6n68csKq/Wv/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQD/2gAIAQIBAT8AS//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREv/aAAgBAwEBPwCWf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After the fiasco of the World Cup where the sacking of former manager Julen Lopetegui two days before the tournament scattered La Furia Roja's plans, Spain has named former Celta Vigo and FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique as the new manager.
He replaces Fernando Hierro who was entrusted with the job. The former technical director and Real Madrid legend failed abysmally as a talented group of players were unable to go far at the Mundial.
After the failure in Russia, the need for a fresh start became apparent as Hierro stepped down from the job. In his place has come former Barcelona captain and coach Luis Enrique.
The fiery character is expected to shake things up and here are five things he could look to do:
#5 Get rid of some old players
After the debacle of Vicente Del Bosque's last days as manager, Lopetegui was brought in to re-energize the team. The former U-21 manager's know-how changed the team's set up from what he met.
While some old heads who were central parts of the Golden Generation retired (Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and others), Lopetegui did away with the services of some out-of-sorts players like Cesc Fabregas, Pedro among others.
Enrique will need to tow the same line and move on some of the older players to make room for the young guns itching to make their mark.
Players like Gerard Pique, David Silva among others have been fantastic servants for the team. However, they are rapidly declining and as such, Enrique will need to gently push them aside in order to rebuild the team.
#4 Sort out the El Clasico/regional rivalries
For a very long time, the Spanish national team had failed to make a meaningful mark in world football despite the many talents it possessed.
Regional allegiances (Castillan, Basque, Catalonian, Andalusian, Galician) and fierce inter-club rivalry especially among the El Clasico clubs; Real Madrid and Barcelona created divisions and held the team back.
The late Luis Aragones was the man who bucked this trend when he took over the job in 2006 as he made the team welcoming for all players irrespective of regional/club affiliation. Luis Enrique will need to continue this work and he is adequately prepared for it.
A former international who played for both Real and Barca during his playing days, he will be able to command the respect of the players and communicate effectively.
The El Clasico rivalry was one of the things that the Spanish FA (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales considered before taking the decision to sack Lopetegui.
The potential havoc that Lopetegui's Real Madrid affiliation could have caused was averted (though in hindsight and given the team's pathetic outing, it seems like the wrong call).
#3 Integrate the younger players
For too long, Spain had held tightly to the remnants of the Golden Generation and who can blame them? This was the team that broke all sorts of records winning three international trophies in a row after all.
However, for too long, the former managers; Del Bosque and Lopetegui held on too long to this set of players.
This discouraged the very vivacious set of youngsters that came after the golden ones. Some of the youngsters especially the set that won the European U-21 Championship in 2013 (ironically under Lopetegui) are already in their mid-twenties.
A lot of youngsters have come through Spanish club academies in the years following the win at Euro 2012. These young ones who are excelling in club football across Europe will need chances to show what they can do.
Enrique's record of playing youngsters during his coaching career is not great. However, he has always been an ideas man who likes shaking things up.
It is expected that a lot of these young tyros will get their chance when Spain's campaign in the UEFA Nations League commences.
#1 Change the style of play
Death-by-a-thousand-passes. This was the style of play with which Spain conquered Europe and the world between 2008-2012.
Such was the success of the style that it became an obsession among opposing coaches to figure out a way to break/bypass this style.
Under del Bosque, the team failed to evolve as the passing which had been quick, intelligence and dynamic under Aragones became staid, purposeless and sad to watch.
This is the style of play that Enrique will look to change to a more direct, faster style. After all, he was the Barcelona manager who changed from the quick passing style synonymous with the Blaugrana to a counterattacking style which won trophies but earned him the enmity of Cules and the Spanish press.
The good news is that Spain already has the players needed to make this style change, it will be up to the former AS Roma manager to effect it in a way that restores the team's former glory.
Can Enrique turn it around for Spain? Sound off your opinions in the comments section!
