Luis Enrique steps down as Spain manager due to 'family reasons'

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have confirmed Luis Enrique has stepped down as manager for personal reasons.

The 49-year-old will be replaced for the remainder of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by his assistant Robert Moreno.

Enrique has not been active with La Roja since March and leaves Spain top of their qualifying group with wins over Sweden, Malta, the Faroe Islands and Romania.

Enrique, who was named the world’s best coach by FIFA in 2015 while in charge of Barcelona, took on the job on last July, replacing Fernando Hierro.

He was absent for the 3-0 win over Sweden last Monday due to ‘major family reasons’, according to a statement released by the federation.

RFEF president Luis Rubiales said on Wednesday that a “moment of tremendous difficulty for family reasons” had forced Enrique to step down from his position.

Enrique added in a written statement that he had stepped down “due to the reasons which had prevented me from fulfilling my duties as normal since last March.”

Moreno will take charge for the first time when Spain face Romania on July 5^th and he will continue in charge until the end of Euro 2020.