Coach sacked 2 weeks after Spanish women's WC win

Jorge Vilda has been sacked as the coach of the Spanish women's national team just over two weeks after he led the team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup, reported Xinhua.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced Vilda's sacking on Tuesday, just hours after issuing a communique apologizing for the behavior of suspended RFEF president Luis Rubiales and demanding his resignation. Rubiales was accused of making obscene gestures and kissing player Jenni Hermoso in celebrations following Spain's 1-0 win over England in the World Cup final.

Vilda had been in his job since 2015, but this is not the first time he has been affected by controversy.

In September 2022, 15 members of the women's squad refused to play for Spain again while Vilda was in charge, citing poor preparation and training sessions for their reasons, as well as complaining about the coach's controlling behavior, with allegations he would ask where they were, what they had bought when shopping and even insisted they leave their hotel doors unlocked.

Rubiales supported Vilda in this dispute, and only three of the 15 players who renounced the national team were in the squad for the World Cup.

The suspension of Rubiales and the fact Vilda openly applauded his speech at the RFEF offices on August 25, in which Rubiales refused to resign and complained about "false feminists", put further pressure on the coach and his position was later made untenable when his coaching staff resigned en masse and the players said they would not play again until Rubiales resigned.