Kenny Shiels: I hope Spain beat England in World Cup Final after they showed great loyalty to their manager
Former Northern Ireland boss Kenny Shiels admits he would like to see Spain claim the World Cup trophy
Spain manager Jorge Vilda
Former Northern Ireland women’s manager Kenny Shiels says he will be cheering on Spain in Sunday’s World Cup Final, due to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)’s commitment to its head coach.
The Spanish will tackle much-fancied European champions England in the Sydney decider (11am).
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph just hours before Northern Ireland appointed a new women’s manager in Australian Tanya Oxtoby, the former Derry City boss said: “The Spanish Federation really show how an association should be run and they aren’t influenced by any ‘backroom lawyers’ within the players.”
This weekend will mark the female Spanish team’s first-ever World Cup Final, and the manager leading it all, Jorge Vilda, had been the subject of a mass-player rebellion just under a year ago.
Nevertheless, the RFEF stood by Vilda in September 2022 after 15 players emailed the organisation ‘identical’ messages to say they would not play for their national team if he continued to take charge.
The players had listed bad management of injuries, a negative atmosphere in the locker room, Vilda’s team selection and his training sessions as contributing factors behind their poor mental health, thus resulting in them wanting him to depart from the lead role.
“Las 15”, as the players became known, denied claims they had asked for Vilda to be sacked, but tension followed and 12 of the revolting players ended up being cut from the squad for this summer’s tournament, rather than Vilda.
Shiels affirms that he now has a new-found “allegiance” to Spain due to this decision, adding that he is “so proud of them for what
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk
