Jorge Vilda has branded his sacking as Spain Women’s head coach only weeks after winning the World Cup as “unfair”.
Vilda, who led Spain to a 1-0 win over England in the World Cup final on August 20, was dismissed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Tuesday, with Montse Tome named as his successor. Vilda’s departure came amid the continued fallout of suspended RFEF president Luis Rubiales’ behaviour during the on-field celebrations following Spain’s triumph in Sydney.
“I am as well as you can be having been fired after being world champion 10 days ago,” Vilda said in an interview with Cadena SER as reported by Sky Sports. “I believe I have been fired unfairly,” he added: “In sporting terms, I am going to accept all criticism, but on a personal level, I believe it has been unfair.
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“It has been a special year, I’ve seen it as a Master’s degree. Nothing has ever been said directly but indirectly things have been said that do not sit well with me. Things have been said that are not true.”
He added of his dismissal: “It was a brief meeting with Pedro Rocha and the vice president of Equality. The explanation is that there have been ‘structural changes’. After everything I’ve achieved, after having given my 100 percent, my conscience is clear. I don’t understand the firing, I didn’t think I deserved it.”
All 11 of Vilda’s backroom colleagues had already resigned in protest over the ongoing crisis surrounding Rubiales, who was pictured kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips.