Twitch Streaming Experiment Ends in Sacking for Spain’s National Team Manager
Luis Enrique’s decision to stream his experiences as the manager of Spain’s men’s national team at the FIFA World Cup was met with excitement from fans. The aim was to provide exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and keep fans informed directly, rather than through the media. As expected, it was a huge success, propelling Enrique to become the fastest-growing streamer on Twitch in under a month.
However, as the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
Spain’s journey in the tournament came to an abrupt end when they barely made it through the group stage and were then eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 3-0 defeat against Morocco in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Many speculated that Enrique’s streaming activities on Twitch, once regarded as a brilliant idea, became a needless distraction and played a role in the team’s underperformance. However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation denied that Enrique’s streaming career influenced their decision to part ways with him.
The federation stated during a press conference introducing Enrique’s replacement, “It was a communication from the RFEF in which we informed Luis Enrique about pursuing another project. Two and a half years ago, we decided not to discuss anything until after the World Cup. Luis Enrique did not express his desire to continue because our conversation revolved around one project ending and another beginning. It has nothing to do with Twitch, bicycles, or anything else. We simply agreed it was time for a new project.”
Luis de la Fuente has taken over as the new manager, previously leading Spain’s under-21 men’s national team to a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. His future plans remain unknown, whether he will return to managing a club, another national team, or leverage his success as a breakout Twitch streamer remains to be seen.
What Lies Ahead for Luis Enrique?
While it is unlikely that Enrique will continue his streaming career, he may still strive for growth and success on Twitch.