This Sunday’s World Cup final will see Spain and Argentina face off with a common denominator: both coaches, Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni, forged part of their careers at Sevilla FC.
The Spanish national team will compete this Sunday at 21:00 against Argentina in the World Cup final, but the match will have a distinct Nervión flavour. Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish coach, and Lionel Scaloni, the Argentine manager, share a past linked to Sevilla FC, whether as players, youth coaches, or tactical analysts.
De la Fuente: two stages at Sevilla that marked his career
The Spanish coach, born in Haro, wore the Sevilla first team jersey between 1987 and 1991, defending the white and red shield during a period he remembers fondly. After hanging up his boots, he returned to the Nervión fold as the youth team coach between 2001 and 2005, where he contributed to the development of young talents on the Utrera road.
“Sevilla is a club I carry in my heart,” the coach has stated on several occasions, as he now leads the national team in search of their second World Cup in history. His knowledge of Sevilla's youth system and his experience at the elite level have allowed him to build a solid unit that dismantled France in the semi-finals.
For Sevilla fans, seeing De la Fuente on the Spanish bench is a source of pride. His time at the club not only gave him experience as a player but also allowed him to develop a playing philosophy based on possession and control, a hallmark of the club.
Scaloni: the learning in Nervión that led him to glory
On the opposing bench, Lionel Scaloni also has a direct connection to the Andalusian capital. The Argentine arrived at Sevilla in October 2016 to join Jorge Sampaoli's coaching staff as a field assistant and opponent analyst. He remained at the club until May 2017, during which time he absorbed the working methods of European football.
“It was a short but intense period,” Scaloni confessed in a pre-tournament interview. His time at Sánchez-Pizjuán helped him mature tactically and understand the demands of a fanbase that does not forgive. Now, at the helm of Argentina, he has led the Albiceleste to the final after coming back against England in the semi-finals with a stellar Messi.
For Sevilla fans, it is curious that two coaches with a past in Nervión are facing each other in the most important match on the planet. The connection between both clubs is reinforced by this historical coincidence, which many fans will experience with a sense of nostalgia.
A clash of styles with a Sevillian stamp
The match will pit two ways of understanding football against each other. Spain, with De la Fuente, bets on possession and passing, while Argentina, with Scaloni, combines defensive solidity and counterattacks. Both coaches have managed to imprint their stamp on their teams, but share a foundational work ethic learned in the Andalusian capital.
This Sunday, Sevilla fans will have an extra reason to follow the match: two adopted sons of Nervión are vying for the most coveted title. Regardless of the outcome, the name of Sevilla FC will resonate in the final.
The match is set for Sunday at 21:00 at the Lusail Stadium. The streets of Sevilla are already preparing for a historic night, with giant screens and flags on balconies. Football, once again, shows that the ties of Nervión transcend borders.
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