Who are Jorge Vilda’s Parents?

Who are Jorge Vilda’s Parents? – Jorge Vilda is a distinguished Spanish football coach holding the prestigious UEFA Pro Licence.

Born on July 7, 1981, he currently serves as the head coach of the Spain women’s national football team, a position he has held since 2015. Beyond this prominent role, Vilda also functions as the sporting director of the Spanish FA’s (RFEF) women’s national-team system and serves as a tactical instructor at their National Coaching School.

Jorge Vilda’s journey in coaching began after his playing career, which included stints at Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, and FC Barcelona. Initially, he served as an assistant coach for the Spain Women’s Under-17 (WU17) and Women’s Under-19 (WU19) teams. In 2009, he assumed the position of head coach for Spain’s WU17s, where he achieved remarkable success. During his five-year tenure, Spain secured gold medals in 2010 and 2011, silver in 2014, and bronze in 2013 at UEFA Women’s U-17 EUROs. Additionally, they clinched silver in 2014 and bronze in 2010 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

In recognition of his coaching prowess, Jorge Vilda was among the top ten nominees for the FIFA Coach of the Year for Women’s Football in 2014. Subsequently, he took over as the head coach of Spain’s WU19s, leading them to silver medals at the UEFA Women’s U-19 EURO in 2014 and 2015.

In 2015, Jorge Vilda was appointed as the head coach of the Spain women’s senior national football team, succeeding Ignacio Quereda. Under his leadership, Spain experienced significant achievements, including a successful qualification campaign for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017. During the competition in the Netherlands, Spain advanced to the quarter-finals, ultimately losing on penalties to Austria after a goalless draw.

In 2018, Spain claimed victory in the Cyprus Cup and secured their place at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking only their second appearance at this global event. Furthermore, Vilda’s tenure witnessed Spain’s triumph at the UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship, which contributed to his recognition on the shortlist for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach in 2018.

By 2019, many of the players Vilda had nurtured at the youth level, including talents like Alexia Putellas, Amanda Sampedro, Virginia Torrecilla, and others, had become integral members of the senior squad. During the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, Spain advanced from Group B and reached the knockout stages for the first time in their history. In the Round of 16, they faced the formidable U.S. team and, despite a valiant effort, were eliminated after conceding two penalties from Megan Rapinoe.

Spain’s momentum continued into 2020, with the team achieving second place in the She Believes Cup, which included notable victories over England and Japan.

In 2022, a significant dispute unfolded between Coach Vilda and 15 Spanish players, resulting in their boycott of the national team. This dispute stemmed from their dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, as well as concerns about Vilda’s coaching style and player treatment.

Despite this rift, Vilda retained the support of the Federation and declined to resign. Consequently, he did not call up the boycotting players for subsequent matches. Only three of the original 15 players, Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey, and Ona Batlle, eventually returned to the national team.

In a remarkable turn of events, Spain emerged as world champions in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, securing victory by defeating England 1–0 in the final, courtesy of Olga Carmona’s goal. This historic triumph marked a pinnacle in Jorge Vilda’s coaching career, highlighting his resilience and leadership in the face of adversity.