Spain may win Women’s World Cup despite rift with coach Jorge Vilda

Tensions within Spain’s camp have hit their peak just ahead of the Women’s World Cup final.

Head coach Jorge Vilda, 42, is at the center of drama since taking over in 2015 and it has only increased throughout the tournament.

During the World Cup, it has been apparent that the coach and the players are at odds with one another, with videos of athletes ignoring him in post-match celebrations such as their quarterfinal triumph against the Netherlands when Vilda ran on the field to embrace the players only to be turned away.

Vilda was also left hanging by Alexia Putellas during the semifinal win against Sweden, looking for a handshake, and was seen awkwardly next to his players as they took a team selfie. 

‘What did bother me is when there was any doubt of honourability and that’s when we went to a press conference and said that any player who had not been treated with respect to come out,” Vilda said in a press conference. “No one has gone out and it has been shown that in these fifteen years, the relationship has been professional.”

This isn’t the first time the Spaniards have shown their dislike for the coach since he took on the role, as other players in the past have cited an impact to their physical and mental health due to Vilda’s coaching.

Players recently reached out to the Spanish FA — with some personally phoning the football federation’s president Luis Rubiales — to explain how they felt unprepared for the 2022 European Championship quarterfinal, saying they didn’t have any analysis of the opposing team of England, who eventually defeated them, and claimed they went through inadequate practices.

Vilda reportedly did not comply with any of the complaints which eventually led to 15 players notably resigning in 2022 from La Roja in protest and writing to the Spanish FA declaring that they wouldn’t be available for selection while Vilda held the lead role, claiming his coaching style was ‘damaging their mental health’.

Only three out of the 15 players came back for the World Cup.

“Hard,” Vilda said when asked to describe the last 12 months. “There has been some very hard times. I also think it has been a year that has made us all better. After the year we have had, if all this has had to happen for us to be here in a World Cup final, we value it as positive.”

In addition to his alleged lack of preparation and conscientiousness towards the team, Vilda has had complaints about his conduct, one that has been described as controlling.

There have been claims against him of forcing players to keep their room doors open until midnight to check if they were asleep, checking their bags after a shopping trip, and checking in with Vilda about who they were going to meet if they wanted to leave camp.

“You have to focus on the work, look at the performance of the players and try to make everything as easy as possible so that the group is lively and happy,” he added about working with the players. “It has been a two-month job, but I think we are now a team with all the letters.

Spain will face off against England on Sunday in the Women’s World Cup Final at 6 a.m. EST, and Vilda has not confirmed a starting 11 just yet, but expects the team’s style of play to not waiver in the final match.