Inside the mutiny hanging over World Cup finalists Spain: Stars revolted over tactics, mental health… and not being allowed to lock their hotel room doors – but now only England can stop them
England and Spain have been confirmed to face each other in this year’s Women’s World Cup final, but the Lionesses’ rivals still have a team mutiny hanging over them after months of chaos.
Sarina Wiegman’s side secured a spot in the final after beating hosts Australia 3-1, while Spain triumphed 2-1 over Sweden on Tuesday to secure their place in Stadium Australia on Sunday.
However, it should not be underestimated how impressive Spain’s performance in reaching the Women’s World Cup final is – given the shocking turn of events both on and off the field in recent years.
From rules over bedroom doors, letters to the Spanish Football Federation and a player revolt involving 15 stars from the national team, head coach Jorge Vilda was at the center of all the drama.
So, here, Mail sports looks at the player mutiny that Vilda faces and how it came about.
Spain has qualified for the final of the Women’s World Cup after beating Sweden 2-1
Jorge Vilda, first-team coach (centre), remains a divisive figure despite his success on the pitch
The Spaniard was previously accused of inappropriate relationships and strange rules
VILDA’S APPOINTMENT
Vilda, like many, was a former professional player before joining management, but struggled to build a successful career on the field.
After unsuccessful stints with the youth teams of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano, he started as an assistant coach at WU17 and WU19 level, before taking on the role of head coach at Spain’s WU17s in 2009.
He spent five years with the U17 national side before moving on to Spain’s WU19s and then, in 2015, moved to the senior team after Ignacio Quereda was sacked following another riot in the Spanish dressing room.
Since his appointment, he has managed to lead the Spanish side to the Algarve Cup and Cyprus Cup, as well as their recent qualification for the World Cup final.
However, ongoing off-field controversies tarnished his reputation among the national team players.
For example, until 2019 there was a rule that senior players were not allowed to close their doors until Vilda had completed a check and agreed to the conditions. Only then, when the manager was gone, were the women allowed to lock their doors.
His close relationship with some of the older female players was also questioned by some team members, who viewed his treatment of them as ‘childish’.
Vilda’s father, Angel, is head of the women’s section at the Spanish FA, making it incredibly difficult to remove him from his position.
Jorge Vilda has been in charge of the Spanish women’s senior team since 2015
Spain’s players had expressed concerns about some of the rules in place during Vilda’s tenure
PLAYERS GO TO SPANISH FA
After their defeat to England in last summer’s European Championship, the Spanish seniors felt that Vilda’s time with the national team manager should come to an end.
The team reportedly felt unprepared for their match with England, with players citing a lack of opponent tactical analysis and inadequate training sessions.
A number of the team’s senior players started a private video call with Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, who failed to see their perspective.
Instead, Rubiales insisted that Vilda deserved to keep his job and refused to approve his resignation.
This led to the players issuing a formal statement, saying: ‘There is general discomfort in the group.
“We have a group that can achieve great things,” said Guijarro. “After what we went through at European Championships and the months after, we wanted to share our thoughts as a group with the FA.
‘We are an ambitious group and believe that certain internal mechanisms should be replaced. It’s about being brave. Sometimes you have to say things that sound unpleasant to change things.’
Players wrote to Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, but the football chief disagreed
TIME TO RISE
With few changes being made to the Spanish women’s senior team, the players decided they were the only ones who could orchestrate a change.
In September, prior to the announcement of the national team squad, fifteen players wrote letters to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) who said they would not be available for selection as long as Vilda remained as manager and insisted that his management of the team affected their mental health.
“We want strong support for a professional project for women’s football,” the statement read. “A project that takes care of every aspect to help us get the best possible performance out of a group of players who we believe can achieve better and major honours.
“At least we have not stopped the national team, as the Spanish Football Federation says. Our commitment to the national team remains the same.”
The RFEF issued a strongly worded statement in response, condemning the selected players as having committed a ‘very serious offence’ by refusing to play for the country.
The threats of sacking could also lead to a suspension of up to five years from the national team, and the RFEF demanded an apology from all players involved.
15 players wrote to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to announce their refusal to be selected for a squad of the national team, due to their fractional relationship with Vilda
The Spanish Football Federation’s statement read: ‘The RFEF can confirm that throughout the day we have received 15 emails from 15 players of the women’s football team… stating that the current situation is significantly affecting their emotional state and their health’ . and that they will resign from the Spanish national team ‘as long as it is not reversed’.
“The RFEF does not allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach and his coaching staff, as making those decisions is not within their powers.”
As a result, Vilda chose only three of the 15 stars on strike in his 23-player roster.
Barca trio Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Lola Gollardo did not make themselves available for selection. Especially Leon and Guijarroa will suffer huge losses.
Mapi Leon from Barcelona is one of the few who has not made himself available for selection
WORLD CUP STORY SO FAR
Despite all this controversy, Spain still managed to secure a place in the final of the Women’s World Cup this year.
After taking two out of three victories in their group stage matches, they stormed past Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden to book their place in the final.
Interestingly enough, two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas remained part of the squad – despite her similarity with her former teammates.
And Putellas’ fractional relationship with Vilda became apparent after her furious reaction to her substitution during the semifinals in Sweden.
Spain’s Alexia Putellas made a frustrated figure after being eliminated against Sweden
In a video that appeared on TwitterPutellas was seen slapping the hand of one of Spain’s coaches after her substitution, before taking a seat on the bench.
Another coach also reached out to the 29-year-old, but she too reacted coolly before entering the dugout.
It shows that Vilda’s support from his dressing room has faded, but if they can beat England in the final, he can still bring success to the country.