Spain boss Luis de la Fuente reveals Cucurella holiday choice and picks three future coaches

Luis de la Fuente has highlighted the importance of unity within Spain’s dressing room, while revealing that Marc Cucurella would be his choice for both a week-long holiday and a night out.

The Spain manager was speaking to El Mundo in an interview whose main comments were reported by Sport. His answers focused on loyalty, commitment and the value of strong relationships between team-mates.

De la Fuente was asked about Cucurella’s tattoo bearing the manager’s face and said the Chelsea full-back had kept a promise.

“Cucurella’s tattoo that carries my face? He kept his word, and that is also a principle and a value of the utmost importance. He is a man who keeps his promises,” said De la Fuente.

The manager was then asked which Spain player he would choose to spend a week-long holiday with. He did not need much time to decide.

“If I want to have fun, I’ll go with Cucurella,” he replied.

When asked which player he would take out to celebrate and stay up late, De la Fuente selected Cucurella again.

“Since I’m going on holiday with him, I’ll take him with me as well,” he said, laughing.

De la Fuente also revealed the players he would trust in other areas of life. He said he would leave his house keys with Mikel Oyarzabal, while he would enter a business project with Mikel Merino, whom he described as a “very serious” person with a strong sense of responsibility.

The Spain manager added that Marcos Llorente would be his companion for a concert by singer Julio Iglesias.

His comments offered an insight into the personal qualities he values in his players, with the coach placing particular emphasis on solidarity and a shared sense of responsibility.

De la Fuente also named three members of his squad whom he believes could move into management after their playing careers.

“Rodri, Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino have good qualities to become coaches,” he said.

The remarks came as De la Fuente stressed that building a cohesive dressing room is essential for any team hoping to compete at the highest level. For the Spain manager, the bonds between players extend beyond their performances on the pitch and are reflected in trust, loyalty and team spirit.

Cucurella’s tattoo, his repeated selection as De la Fuente’s preferred holiday companion and the manager’s description of Merino all featured in the interview’s light-hearted questions, while the comments about Rodri, Oyarzabal and Merino provided a broader assessment of the personalities within the Spain squad.