Sacked Spain women’s coach Jorge Vilda expresses his innocence and believes his removal, just 16 days after La Roja’s World Cup victory, was unjust. The 42-year-old was ousted by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following the Luis Rubiales controversy.
FIFA suspended RFEF President Rubiales for kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20. Additionally, the Spanish government is pursuing additional penalties.
Hermoso asserted that the kiss was not consensual, while Rubiales maintained it was.
After Rubiales declined to step down, more than 80 players from the women’s team went on strike until RFEF leadership was changed.
“The reason for my dismissal was cited as ‘structural changes,'” Vilda stated on Cadena Ser radio. “Considering everything we’ve accomplished and the effort I’ve put in, I have a clear conscience. I gave my all, and I don’t comprehend it. I don’t believe my termination was warranted.”
Before the World Cup, 15 players had refused to play for the national team due to disagreements with Vilda and the federation, though many later relented, and three were called up for the tournament.
After the competition, Rubiales pledged to extend Vilda’s contract by four years and provide a substantial salary increase.
“I’m feeling as good as you can after becoming world champions 16 days ago, 10 days ago having your contract renewed with a higher salary, and then today being sacked, I think unjustly,” said Vilda.
The former Spain women’s coach was criticized for applauding Rubiales’ controversial speech in which he railed against “false feminism” and refused to resign.
“I will never applaud anything macho,” added Vilda. “I didn’t know where that meeting was going, we thought we were going to see a resignation.
“The president was evaluating your work and announcing your renewal — that I applauded.”
Vilda said he had not spoken to Hermoso recently but knew she was suffering after the incident.
“I’ve known Jenni for 16 years,” said Vilda.
“I know she’s having a hard time, I know her family is having a hard time, and I know she’s waiting for all this to be over.”
Vilda took over the Spanish women’s national team in 2015, after years spent coaching younger age groups within the RFEF.
Players had complained about his training methods and tactics after Spain were eliminated in Euro 2022 by England in the quarter-finals, as well as other issues around the team.
Vilda was also criticized for being excessively “controlling” by former players. Spanish reports said he demanded to check players’ shopping bags and made the squad leave their bedroom doors open during team training camps to make sure the players were still there in the evenings.
Despite the complaints, Rubiales and the federation stood by Vilda and the coach called up several younger players to fill in for the 15 missing stars in the lead-up to the World Cup.