Who is Roberto Moreno, Spain's new football team coach?

Moreno is Spain's fourth coach in the last 12 months

Who is Roberto Moreno, Spain's new football team coach? Spains newly appointed coach Roberto Moreno | AFP

With Luis Enrique stepping down as head coach citing ‘personal reasons’, Roberto Moreno, the number two man in the Spanish setup is all set to take over from his long time boss. Luis Enrique has not been with the team for some time now, the past three games which Spain won against Malta, the Faroe Islands and Sweden were all managed by the then Assistant Manager Roberto Moreno, therefore, the change of guard at the helm will not come as a surprise to many.

Luis Rubiales, the President of Spain's FA, confirmed that the appointment was not a stop-gap solution but part of concrete plans for the future. “Roberto will take over as coach, with the same length of contract that was signed before. He will be in charge of taking us to and overseeing a good showing at Euro 2020”, he said.

So who is Roberto Moreno, the new head coach of one of the most recognised teams in world football?

The FA has certainly been brave to let Moreno take charge of the La Roja without having any prior experience as head coach. With the Euro Cup just around, the onus of Moreno's new job cannot be underestimated.

Having said that, Moreno is not a complete outsider either. He has long been under the shadow of the outgoing head coach and has overseen many successes with him. Moreno has been in partnership with Enrique since his days at Barcelona B, and has been with him at Roma, Celta Vigo, and eventually at Barcelona and Spain's national team.

Who is Roberto Moreno, Spain's new football team coach? [File] Roberto Moreno gestures during the UEFA Euro 2020 group F qualifying football match between Spain and Sweden | AFP

Moreno has been filling in for his boss quite a lot recently, managing the last three successful outings when Enrique couldn't be with the team. He has proven himself as one of Luis Enrique's trusted men, being a constant presence at the team's press briefings and on the touchline. The new gaffer is a pioneering figure in analysing the opposition and in devising strategy and also happens to have authored a book titled, My Recipe of the 4-4-2.

Moreno's prolific rise from “backroom operator” to being the main man himself is commendable indeed, but whether he can bring much needed transformation to the talented squad and reinstate its glory once again as “one of the finest teams in the world”, might be his biggest test yet.