Coach who led Spain to a World Cup victory, Jorge Vilda, has been dismissed as part of significant changes implemented by the RFEF following the Luis Rubiales scandal.
Vilda guided Spain to a World Cup triumph last month with a 1-0 victory over England in the final, despite facing a player mutiny a year earlier when a majority of the squad called for his removal.
In response to the mutiny, 15 players vowed not to play for the team as long as Vilda remained in charge. However, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) continued to support Vilda, with President Luis Rubiales strongly endorsing him.
Rubiales even pledged to offer Vilda a new contract after Spain’s World Cup win.
However, FIFA’s decision to suspend Rubiales from all football activities for 90 days following his inappropriate behaviour of grabbing and kissing captain Jenni Hermoso after the final rocked the president’s position.
Despite refusing to resign in a remarkable press conference, FIFA’s suspension temporarily removed him from the RFEF, with Pedro Rocha taking on the role of interim chief.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the RFEF announced Vilda’s dismissal just hours after issuing a lengthy letter in which they apologised for Rubiales’ “unacceptable” conduct.
“The Royal Spanish Football Federation, in one of the first renewal measures announced by president Pedro Rocha, has decided to dispense with the services of Jorge Vilda as sports director and women’s national coach,” read the statement.
“The RFEF appreciates his work at the head of the National Team and in his functions as the head of sports for the women’s teams, as well as the successes achieved during his time, crowned with the recent achievement of the World Cup.
We value his impeccable personal and sporting conduct, as a key piece in the notable growth of women’s football in Spain.
“Since his arrival at the Federation, Jorge Vilda has given a notable boost that is reflected in the great results obtained. As a coach, he won the U-17 European Championship twice and also won the U-19 European Championship, with winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand being the greatest of his achievements. When he took over the National Team bench in 2015, the national team was far from elite and currently occupies second place in the FIFA ranking.
“As sports director, Spain has won the U-17 World Cup twice (2018 and 2022) and also won the trophy in the U-20 category (2022). In addition, their record includes two U-19 European Championships and two U-17 European Championships, with the national youth team currently being the most successful.
“The RFEF would like to express its gratitude to Jorge Vilda for the services provided, for his professionalism and dedication during all these years, wishing him the best successes in the future. The RFEF is left with an extraordinary sporting legacy thanks to the implementation of a recognised game model and a methodology that has been an engine of growth for all the women’s categories of the national team.”
Shortly after announcing Vilda’s departure, the RFEF confirmed that Monte Tome would be replacing him in the hot seat. The former Levante and Barcelona player has been promoted from her role as assistant manager and is the first female head coach of the Spain senior team.