Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Tracing the Footsteps of Luis Aragones

Luis Aragones @AFP

Julen Lopetegui has just listed the unbeaten streak that previously only achieved by Luis Aragones.

Lopetegui is unbeaten in his first 14 games as manager of the Spanish national team. La Furia Roja made by Lopetegui not only qualified for the 2018 World Cup, but they have not been touched by defeat since coached by him.

Lopetegui is currently tracing the footsteps of one of the greatest Entrenador in the history of Spain football.

The last Matchday of Group G for the 2018 World Cup qualifying, Tuesday (10/10), Spain travel away against Israel. Despite already making sure to automatically qualify for Russia as group winners over Italy, Spain still chasing victory.

Spain won 1-0. Single goal scored by Asier Illarramendi in 76th minutes.

The goal against Israeli was Illarramendi's first goal for La Furia Roja. Real Sociedad's midfielder got it in his second international appearance. He scored it with his first shot on target.



Spain closed its journey in this qualifying round with 28 points on nine wins and one draw (1-1 vs. Italy). They also scored 36 goals, conceded just three, and not once touched defeat.

That means, in 14 games since being coached by Lopetegui, Spain has not yet been defeated. The record is 11 wins and three draws.

Lopetegui also became the second undefeated coach in his first 14 games to handle Spain after Aragones (W8 D6).

Aragones trained Spain period 2004-2008. The Atletico Madrid legend is one of the best coaches Spain has ever had.

Spain's Aragones not only unbeaten in the first 14 games but 25 matches. They just lost at the 26th game, ie 1-3 against France in the round 16 of the World Cup 2006.

Despite failing at the World Cup, Aragones was retained. The decision was very precise. That was proven by the success of Aragones taking Spain's Euro 2008 champions, beating Germany 1-0 in the final with a single goal by Fernando Torres.

It was Spain's first international honor since 1964.




That was the beginning of the era of the triumph of Spain on the stage of world football. The reason, after that, with the successor Vicente del Bosque, Spain won the 2010 World Cup and EURO 2012.

Del Bosque was unbeaten in 13 of his first matches as Spain coach (W13). He withdrew after Spain failed miserably in the 2014 World Cup and defeated by Italy in the round of 16 EURO 2016.


Lopetegui, who was a former Spanish goalkeeper and previously coached Porto, was appointed as a substitute for Del Bosque. The main task is to bring La Furia Roja to the World Cup 2018.

A manager who is now 51-year-old successful to realize the first target charged to him. In addition, he was also unbeaten in his first 14 games.

The most impressive performance was when beat Italy 3-0 at Santiago Bernabeu with Isco as its main star. It was the victory that paved the way for Russia.

Spain under Julen Lopetegui:

  • Belgium 0-2 Spain (Friendly)
  • Spain 8-0 Liechtenstein (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Italy 1-1 Spain (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Albania 0-2 Spain (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Spain 4-0 Macedonia (World Cup Qualifying)
  • English 2-2 Spanish (Friendly)
  • Spain 4-1 Israel (World Cup Qualifying)
  • French 0-2 Spanish (Friendly)
  • Spain 2-2 Colombia (Friendly)
  • Macedonia 1-2 Spain (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Spain 3-0 Italy (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Liechtenstein 0-8 Spain (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Spain 3-0 Albania (World Cup Qualifying)
  • Israel 0-1 Spain (World Cup Qualifying).


Del Bosque was unbeaten in 13 of his first matches as Spain coach (W13). Lopetegui has passed it with 14 matches unbeaten (W11 D3).

It is still far away for Lopetegui to pursue 25 unbeatable records of Aragones's. But he was on the right track.

He just needs to keep track of the legend's footsteps, step by step.
By a la/s
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