- Tome to leave role as Spain head coach
- News comes two weeks after Euro 2025 final loss
- Replacement already revealed by federation
The Spanish federation (RFEF) announced the news on Monday, with Tome to leave her post when her contract expires at the end of August. It comes after Spain failed to win Euro 2025, a tournament they were the favourites for. That disappointment was just 12 months on from an under-par Olympic Games, too, where La Roja were shockingly beaten by Brazil in the semi-finals before losing to Germany in the bronze medal match. Again, Tome’s side were expected to triumph, but didn’t.
Since taking over from controversial coach Jorge Vilda, whose last act in charge was to guide Spain to glory at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Tome has come in for her fair share of criticism. Her decision to substitute Alexia Putellas in the Euro 2025 final was incredibly surprising, with her management of the two-time Ballon d’Or winner also called into question at the Olympics. The lack of a plan B and an incredibly leaky defence are other factors that have been scrutinised during Tome’s two years in charge. She did deliver a Nations League triumph last year, but many would’ve expected the world champions to pick up at least one more major honour in the past two years given their star quality, be it at the Olympics or the Euros.
Tome has been replaced by Sonia Bermudez, who represented Spain 63 times and also turned out for Barcelona, Rayo Vallecano and Atletico Madrid, among others, in her 15-year playing career. As a coach, Bermudez has delivered two European titles for Spain’s Under-19s and now gets the chance to lead the senior team.
Bermudez’s debut in the dugout will come in October, when Spain take part in the Nations League finals. La Roja will be out to defend the title that Tome helped deliver in February 2024, as they take on Sweden in the semi-finals. The winner of the tie will face Germany or France in the final, to be played a few weeks later.
