SPAIN WOMEN'S TEAM
Who is Montse Tomé, the new head coach of Spain’s women’s national team?
Following the sacking of Jorge Vilda, 42-year-old coach Tomé has become the first woman ever to be handed the job.
Montse Tomé, who has been named as the new head coach of the Spain women’s national team, is the first female ever to be appointed to the role.
The former Spain number two, who replaces the sacked Jorge Vilda, is slated to be officially unveiled by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) next week, with the date of her presentation to be confirmed in due course.
Tomé set for bow as Spain boss in Nations League
Tomé is expected to name her first Spain squad on Friday 15 September, before taking charge of her first game as boss a week later, in La Roja’s Women’s Nations League opener against Sweden. The freshly-crowned world champions, who beat England to win their first global title last month, will be battling for qualification for the Olympics in the newly-created Nations League.
Overwhelming candidate for Spain job
Tomé, who had been Vilda’s assistant coach since earning her UEFA Pro licence in 2018, was the clear candidate to take the reins.
A former player with Oviedo Moderno, Barcelona and Levante, she was a Spanish league champion with the Granotas in 2007/08 and was capped four times by Spain.
After hanging up her boots in 2013, Tomé initially carved out a career as a primary-school PE teacher. However, she could not resist the lure of her lifelong passion and, after securing her coaching badges, she returned to soccer as Vilda’s Spain assistant.
In January 2020, in the wake of Toña Is’ departure as head coach of Spain’s Under-17s, Tomé took charge of the team in combination with her duties with the senior side. The demands of job sharing proved too great, though, and she later made way for Kenio Gonzalo as Under-17s boss, allowing her to focus on the top team.
Good rapport with Spain’s players
As Vilda’s chief assistant, Tomé's analytical abilities made her a key part of his coaching staff.
What’s more, despite her connection to the highly unpopular former head coach, she has an excellent relationship with the players. Indeed, she was among the Spain assistants who had the closest and best rapport with the squad.
The choice of Tomé as Vilda’s successor is expected to persuade Spain’s players to return to the international fold. Late last month, the members of the World Cup-winning squad - and a number of other Spanish players - said in a joint statement that they would no longer play for La Roja unless structural changes were made.
Tomé may bring back much of the Spain backroom team which, together with the 42-year-old, resigned en masse two weeks ago, following Luis Rubiales’ refusal to step down as RFEF president after kissing forward Jenni Hermoso amid the Spaniards’ World Cup celebrations.
Video - The controversial moment Rubiales kissed Hermoso:
