De la Fuente and Scaloni: Teacher-student bond ahead of World Cup final
7 reported
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni will face each other in the World Cup final, having first met in 2017 when Scaloni enrolled in the Spanish federation to study for his Uefa Pro Licence. De la Fuente taught the technique module on that course, and Scaloni later said De la Fuente gave him and his classmates "an enormous hand." Both coaches entered national team roles after periods away from top-level football and have built teams that function like families, with values tied to sport and Catholicism. De la Fuente is bidding to become a World Cup winner and European champion simultaneously, while Scaloni is 90 minutes from defending his world title. Neither man has managed a top-flight club game between them. The match on Sunday will reunite the student and the teacher, with both acknowledging that losing is part of sport.
What’s reported
De la Fuente and Scaloni first met in 2017 when Scaloni studied for his Uefa Pro Licence at the Spanish federation.
De la Fuente taught the technique module and was also in charge of Spain's Under-19s at the time.
Scaloni passed the course with one of the best marks in his year.
De la Fuente became Spain's national team boss in 2022, having coached most of the squad since adolescence.
Scaloni became Argentina's head coach in 2018 after Jorge Sampaoli was sacked.
Both coaches have not managed a top-flight club game between them.
De la Fuente is 65 years old.
Key figures
Luis de la Fuente: Spain manager
Lionel Scaloni: Argentina boss
Inaki Saez: Former Spain manager who recommended De la Fuente
Fernando Hierro: Former Spanish Football Federation director
Alberto: De la Fuente's son, a member of Spain's coaching staff
Elisa Montero: Scaloni's wife
Jorge Sampaoli: Former Argentina coach and Scaloni's former boss
Sources: BBC News
