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Sheryll Mericido

Spanish women's soccer team appoints first female head coach

MADRID — After her predecessor was ousted on the same day due to persistent backlash over an unwanted kiss soccer executive Luis Rubiales gave to a player at the Women's World Cup final, the Spanish women's soccer team named its first ever female head coach.

The nation's soccer federation (RFEF) confirmed Jorge Vilda's replacement as the team's head coach would be Montse Tomé just hours after Vilda was fired.

Tomé will be the first woman to lead the women's national team, and her first game will be against Sweden on September 22.

The actions are a result of a significant upheaval in Spanish soccer that began on August 20, when RFEF President Rubiales forcibly kissed forward Jennifer Hermoso.

Hermoso disputed Rubiales' allegation that the kiss was "mutual" and said she wasn't treated with respect. Rubiales has now apologized for his behavior. FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, has suspended him for 90 days while disciplinary actions are taken.

Vilda was fired, and the RFEF noted in a statement that Vilda was "key to the notable growth of women's football and leaves Spain as world champions and second in the FIFA rankings."

The federation called the action "one of the first restructuring measures announced by (interim) President Pedro Rocha."

Since 2015, Vilda has served as the women's national team's head coach. The statement said, "RFEF respects his work as the team's manager and his obligations as the leading sporting representative of the women's national teams, as well as the successes gained throughout his term, capped by the recent World Cup achievement.

It also lauded Vilda's "impeccable personal and sporting conduct" and referred to him as "a promoter of the values of respect and sportsmanship in football" as well as a "key part of the notable growth of women's football in Spain."

La Roja was led to its first Women's World Cup triumph last month by Vilda, who previously served as the head coach of Spain's under-17 and under-19 women's teams. La Roja defeated England 1-0 in the championship match.

The team's on-field success has concealed tension inside the group, as well as a history of hostility between the RFEF, Vilda's coaching staff, and some of the top players in the nation.

Videos of what appeared to be cold reactions from some of Spain's substitute players towards Vilda and his staff as well as during the post-match celebrations went viral on social media following the team's victories against the Netherlands and Sweden in the World Cup quarterfinals and semifinals.

Following the victory over the Netherlands, Vilda attempted to rejoice with a small group of players, but she seemed to be ignored.

The same letters claimed that the players' "emotional state" and health had been impacted by "the situation" within the Spanish national team, of which RFEF was "aware".

"As a result, I do not currently consider myself to be in a condition to be chosen for the national team, and I ask not to be called up until the situation is resolved," the letter stated.

Only three of the 15 athletes who signed the letters—Marina Caldentey, Aitana Bonmat, and Ona Batlle—were members of Spain's World Cup team.

RFEF and Vilda were previously contacted by CNN for comment over the letter, but they did not respond. Vilda called the issue "a world embarrassment" after it was made public and advised creating a squad "only with players 100% committed to the project."

Vilda has been the subject of controversy ever since Spain's goal against England in the World Cup final, when video from the game appeared to show him touching a female staff member in an inappropriate manner. When approached by CNN via RFEF regarding the event, Vilda remained silent.

At the time, Rubiales remarked, "On another level, much lesser (than my circumstance), yet they wanted to do to you what they're doing to me now.

"A fake narrative intended to pass for the real thing We have endured a lot together—your team, myself, and we—suffering, going through, and swallowing a lot.

Vilda, along with many others in the room, was observed cheering Rubiales throughout the meeting. But the next day, he released a statement denouncing the troubled soccer chief's behavior.

Vilda stated in the statement, which was widely reported by Spanish media, "I am deeply sorry that the victory of Spanish women's football has been harmed by the inappropriate behavior that our until now top leader, Luis Rubiales, has carried out and that he himself has recognized."

Vilda guided Spain to straight quarterfinal finishes at the European championships in 2017 and 2022 before the team's win at the Women's World Cup in 2019.

He twice won the under-17 European Championships and the under-19 European Championships while coaching the nation's youth women's teams.


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