Spain sack coach Luis Enrique after Morocco World Cup defeat

La Roja were beaten on penalties in Round of 16 and federation want to 'start a new project' with under-21 coach Jose Luis de la Fuente appointed

Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrate after their penalty shoot-out victory in the World Cup last-16 match against Spain at Education City Stadium on December 6, 2022. Getty

Morocco's players celebrate after their 3-0 penalty shoot-out victory. Getty

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning penalty. AFP

Morocco goalkeeper Bono saves from Sergio Busquets of Spain during the penalty shoot-out. EPA

Dejected Spain players after the match. AFP

Morocco players celebrate the win. AFP

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot-out against Spain. Getty

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty in the shoot-out against Spain. Getty

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scores the winning penalty. Reuters

Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon watches Morocco's Achraf Hakimi's winning penalty hits the back of the net. AP

Goalkeeper Bono of Morocco saves the third penalty by Sergio Busquets of Spain. Getty

Morocco players react after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saves a penalty from Spain's Carlos Soler. PA

Morocco's Hakim Ziyech scores a penalty shoot-out. AP

Bono of Morocco makes a save against a penalty by Carlos Soler of Spain in the penalty shoot-out. Getty

Unai Simon of Spain makes a save against Walid Cheddira of Morocco. Getty

Spain's Marco Asensio hits the side netting with a shot. AP

Spain's Marco Asensio after hitting the side netting with an attempt on goal. AFP

Morocco keeper Bono punches the ball clear. Getty

Morocco goalkeeper Bono is put under pressure by Marco Asensio of Spain. Getty

Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads a good chance over the bar. AP

Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads the ball over the bar. AFP

Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain. Getty

Youssef En-Nesyri, Sergio Busquets and Nayef Aguerd challenge for the ball. EPA

Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui and Spain's Ferran Torres battle. AP

Spain's forward Marco Asensio fights for the ball with Morocco's Romain Ghanem Saiss. AFP

Morocco keeper Bono saves a shot by Spain's Gavi. AP

Spain manager Luis Enrique talks to Gavi. EPA

Morocco keeper Bono tips a shot from Spain's Gavi on to the bar. Getty

Spain's Gavi talks to Argentinian referee Fernando Rapallini after fouling Morocco's Sofiane Boufal. AFP

Spain's Dani Olmo grimaces in pain. AP

Spain's Aymeric Laporte challenges for the ball against Morocco's Walid Cheddira. AP

Morocco's Nayef Aguerd walks off the pitch after picking up an injury. AP

Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech talks with coach Walid Regragui. AFP

Morocco's goalkeeper Bono punches clear. AFP

Aymeric Laporte of Spain is booked. EPA

Coach Luis Enrique has been fired after Spain's defeat against Morocco in the World Cup Round of 16, the Spanish football federation announced on Thursday.

Spain were beaten on penalties after a goalless draw on Tuesday in an upset result after failing to turn their dominance into a victory.

The 52-year-old coach said after the match that he was to blame for the defeat.

Enrique, who was first appointed Spain coach in 2018, had a contract until the end of the year but it will not be renewed. He has been replaced by Spain's under-21 coach Jose Luis de la Fuente.

The federation thanked Enrique but said it was time to “start a new project”.

"Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sporting director, Jose Francisco Molina, have told the coach their decision," the Spanish FA said in a statement.

"The sporting direction of the RFEF has given the president a report, in which it was determined that a new project should start for the national team, with the objective of continuing the growth achieved in the last few years thanks to Luis Enrique and his colleagues," added the RFEF.

Spain last lifted a major trophy a decade ago at Euro 2012, while they have not won a single knockout game at the World Cup since triumphing in South Africa in 2010.

Enrique took over in 2018 after Spain's disappointing Russia World Cup showing, and led La Roja to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, where they were also beaten on penalties by Italy.

Spain got off to a good start in Qatar, routing Costa Rica 7-0, but La Roja couldn't win again in their last three matches, drawing 1-1 with Germany and losing 2-1 to Japan before being held by Morocco.