Spain In Curious Limbo Amid Jorge Vilda Problem And Sponsorship Rise

Jorge Vilda, the coach of Spain’s women’s soccer team, is putting on a brave face. As things stand, he will be on the sidelines during his squad’s next games, except his selection will bear little resemblance to the line-up he would usually field. That’s because mass player complaints against him, and the women’s sporting setup in general, have left the boss with depleted options and a storm to weather.

With many recognized stars abandoning ship, Spain will be much-changed when it takes on the might of Sweden and the U.S. in upcoming international fixtures. Among those to exclude themselves are Ballon D’Or holder Alexia Putellas—one of six Barcelona stars, including goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso and captain Irene Paredes.

Spain’s national soccer federation, the RFEF, has even claimed some players want him gone after receiving messages from a group of them. On this basis, Vilda’s position doesn’t seem tenable, but it just might be for now. The RFEF remains in his corner, and the manager has no design on deserting his post.

That puts the women’s project at a crossroads, but it’s not the only state of flux surrounding the national game. More broadly, positive trends are emerging, with Marca reporting that sponsorship interest (Spanish) in women’s soccer—of which Spain’s prominence forms a considerable part—has been multiplying over the last three years. And it’s anyone’s guess as to how far it can go.

True, Barcelona has not hesitated in selling much of its rights to bring in money, but its deal with Spotify—stretching to the women’s team, too—demonstrates it’s in on the buzz. Outside, Spain’s Liga Iberdrola has been the breakout division across Europe, producing and attracting some of the best talents and raising clubs’ profiles. If its commercial value was in doubt, DAZN acquiring Iberdrola television rights until 2027 shows there is an audience—and, therefore, a space for brands to become more involved.

Indeed, at the World Football (soccer) Summit in Sevilla, attendees proposed that the level-up in sponsor intrigue—predicted to ‘shoot up in 2023’ is linked to television audiences and social media attention growing year on year. That doesn’t look like changing.

So, much of what’s holding it back could sit at the top. Although very unfortunate not to have Putellas involved at the European Championships, Vilda’s insistence on presiding over an almost obsessive possession-based game has left it both a fierce competitor and somewhat one-dimensional. For all the talent, Spain has not advanced as much as it should when the pressure is on. A happy, successful side is what’s missing.

The whole drama, out in the open, isn’t good news for Vilda, the federation, or the players. It does show what they want, however. Putellas and teammates are good enough to know what figure they need rallying them, and—as the frustration highlights—Vilda is not the solution.

It’s hard to imagine this standoff continuing long into the future. Vilda, with plenty of national experience and an eye for detail, has been at the helm for seven years. Players like Putellas and Hermoso are too good not to represent their nation with a World Cup coming next year. Should they not reconsider their positions, it will surely force the hands of the decision-makers, laying down a freshly drawn path for a game that continues to gain plenty of traction.