Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has been named Men's Coach of the Year at the Ballon d'Or awards after guiding his country to World Cup glory, completing a remarkable journey through Spanish football's coaching ranks.
The 65-year-old received the prestigious honour during Monday's ceremony in London, recognising his leadership in Spain's successful World Cup campaign.
"Teamwork makes us invincible. This is a great honour," De la Fuente said while accepting the award.
"The secret is to work with very generous players that put the team first. We've got such an amazing pool of talent, the best in the world, so as a coach I have such a great amount of talent to work with. So this is their success," he added.
Unlike many modern elite coaches who enjoyed illustrious playing careers, De la Fuente built his reputation through years of dedication to youth development and international football.
De la Fuente's rise to the pinnacle of international management followed an unconventional path.
After a respectable playing career and an unremarkable spell in club management, his breakthrough came in 2013 when he spotted a job advertisement from the Spanish Football Federation seeking a youth team coach.
He successfully applied for the position with Spain's Under-19 side, beginning a journey that would eventually lead him to the senior national team.
Thirteen years later, several players who developed under his guidance had become key figures in a Spanish side that conquered the Nations League, Euro 2024 and the World Cup.
His success highlights the value of continuity, player development and a clear tactical philosophy within Spain's national football structure.
Despite entering the tournament with considerable expectations, Spain's World Cup campaign began slowly.
De la Fuente maintained that his squad was the strongest in the competition, even after a disappointing goalless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde in their opening match.
However, Spain steadily improved as the tournament progressed, combining technical quality with defensive discipline and clinical finishing.
Their growing confidence was evident in the semifinals, where they defeated pre-tournament favourites France 2-0 to secure a place in the final.
Awaiting them were defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in a highly anticipated showdown in New Jersey.
The final proved to be a fiercely contested encounter, with Spain forced to withstand Argentina's physical approach while remaining composed under pressure.
Ferran Torres ultimately delivered the decisive moment, firing home the only goal to secure a 1-0 victory and crown Spain world champions.
The triumph added another major trophy to De la Fuente's impressive international record and reinforced his standing among football's leading managers.
Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Pere Romeu received the Women's Coach of the Year award following an outstanding season with the Catalan club.
Romeu guided Barcelona to an impressive quadruple, securing the Spanish league title, Copa de la Reina, Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Women's Champions League.
His achievement capped another dominant campaign for Barcelona and highlighted the club's continued success at the highest level of women's football.
For De la Fuente, however, the evening represented the culmination of a remarkable coaching journey, from answering a youth coaching advertisement to becoming a World Cup-winning manager and Ballon d'Or award recipient.
