Vicente del Bosque quits as coach of one of history's greatest national teams!

 

   Del Bosque will now take on a new position at the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), though the precise nature of his mission has yet to be confirmed. There is nonetheless little doubt he will bring genuine pedigree to the role, having led Spain to even greater heights after Luis Aragonés had ended their 44-year trophy drought by winning UEFA EURO 2008.

Del Bosque inherited a brilliant side but made changes to the line-up, including going against the grain to give Sergio Busquets a regular place alongside Xabi Alonso to form a double midfield pivot. On his major tournament debut, the former Real Madrid player and coach lifted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Spain's first global title.

If the Busquets move was widely questioned following Spain's opening loss to Switzerland in South Africa, Del Bosque would be vindicated. His team kept five clean sheets in their next six games en route to hoisting the trophy in Johannesburg.

Two years later, Del Bosque guided Spain to another EURO triumph, their 4-0 victory against Italy in the final close to perfection. La Roja thus became the only side to win three consecutive major international tournaments, while Del Bosque became the second man after Helmut Schön to mastermind EURO and World Cup successes – as well as the first to have also lifted the UEFA Champions League, with Madrid in 1999/2000 and 2001/02.

Vcente del Bosque, who led Spain to FIFA World Cup and EURO glory, has officially stepped down as coach to end an eight-year spell of unprecedented success.

Vicente del Bosque calls time on Spain reign.