‘There were students who had something different, and he was one of them,’ Spain boss Luis de la Fuente recently reflected on his former student Lionel Scaloni, who he will meet in the dugout in the World Cup final.
The two head coaches will reunite on the biggest stage in New York this weekend, just nine years after having a teacher and student relationship.
Scaloni had been one of several former players to have been enrolled on UEFA A licence course in 2017, but was one of the few foreigners participating at Spain’s ‘City of Football’.
The Argentine, who had previously played in La Liga for three clubs, was working towards the coaching qualification, while part of Jorge Sampaoli’s staff at Sevilla.
Scaloni would ultimately learn from De la Fuente on the course with the Spaniard, who was working with their youth teams at the time, among the teachers guiding the next generation of coaches.
The pair were pictured side-by-side as the teachers and students, including newly appointed Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, posed together for a group photo.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, left, was helped teach Lionel Scaloni to earn his coaching badges
De la Fuente and Scaloni will meet again as coaches of the World Cup finalists
De la Fuente offered his thoughts on the evolution of football and team building during Scaloni’s Pro Licence course
De la Fuente would then teach a further two subjects on Scaloni’s Pro Licence course, offering his thoughts on the evolution of football and team building.
‘Who would have thought? Life is wonderful. And even more so because nothing was ever handed to me or him,’ De la Fuente told Gazzetta Dello Sport pre-tournament.
‘If we’re world and European champions, it’s only thanks to hard work, hard work, and more hard work.
‘Besides, Scaloni and I, despite being different in age, have had similar journeys; we rose to the senior national team from lower ranks. The victories have consolidated our roles.’
De la Fuente revealed that Scaloni would typically sit at the front of his class, alongside Montse Tome, who was the assistant coach of Spain’s Women’s World Cup winning team in 2023.
The cohort also included Javier Saviola, Walter Pandiani and Fernando Redondo.
‘Restlessness, questions, curiosity, privileged minds, Scaloni loved debate, discussion, constructive discussion, he made suggestions, he was very active,’ De la Fuente said.
‘The great thing about those lessons was that they stayed here in Las Rozas to play soccer with each other – real matches, eh? Competitive on the field and humble in class.
Scaloni received his Pro Licence at the start of 2018 and was Argentina boss at the end of the year
The Argentina boss led his nation to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022
De la Fuente was appointed Spain boss the same year and guided his nation to Euro 2024 success
‘They worked in groups, and there was a great spirit, because it’s important to remember that in the classes, mixed obviously, not everyone had reached the same level as a soccer player. Well, in the classroom, everyone was the same.
‘The typical classroom atmosphere was recreated: the one at the front, the one at the back, the one talking, the one joking, the one silent.
‘It was magnificent, Scaloni always sat in the front, like the top of the class.’
Scaloni was pictured among the group receiving their UEFA Pro Licence diplomas at a ceremony in January 2018, with the RFEF stating their course would be officially completed once after a work placement period.
By the close of the year, Scaloni had taken temporary charge of Argentina’s national team through to the Copa America.
Diego Maradona famously criticised the move, claiming that Scaloni was ‘unqualified’ and ‘wouldn’t even be able to direct traffic.’
Scaloni has since overseen back-to-back Copa America triumphs with Argentina, along with overseeing their 2022 World Cup final triumph.
De la Fuente was appointed as Spain boss the same year and led them to Euro 2024 glory.
An expected reunion in the Finalissima in Qatar, the match between the European and South American champions, was ultimately cancelled in March owing to the Iran war.
The teacher and student will instead meet again in the World Cup final, a prospect welcomed by both.
‘I’m happy for him, he deserves it,’ Scaloni said this week.
‘Luis is a great person. Everything we see in his team is what we would like to see in ours.’
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