Don Quixote de La... Fuente

 After the match against Argentina, Luis de la Fuente feels like Don Quixote. But it's not Cervantes he's quoting. It's Julio Iglesias, his favorite singer. «Soy de aquellos que sueñan con la libertad... soy Quijote de un tiempo que no tiene edad» (I am one of those who dream of freedom... I am a Quixote of a timeless era). And there's no greater freedom than winning on your own terms, without compromise, achieving immortality, an age not measured in years.

At 65, Luis de la Fuente has matured like fine wine aged in oak barrels. Like the fruit of the grapevines from his native La Rioja, Spain's wine capital. A slow process, without shortcuts, that took decades to reach its peak splendor, served in a glass. His strength comes from respecting nature; it comes from the earth; from years of wisdom: from knowing how to listen to his elders. His strength comes from looking at the sky, telling time by the sun, and counting the moons. Growing up in the Basque Country and developing his skills at Athletic Bilbao refined this character — a historic club known for its work ethic, solidarity, and strong sense of collective identity.

This Spanish team isn't built on individual brilliance. It's no more and no less than the sum of its parts. It is the sum of its parts. It's not the 'Spanish Fury' breaking through defenses; it's not the 'tiki-taka' gliding across the pitch. It's an alchemy that reduces everything to the maximum simplicity of effectiveness. It's about dominating, with composure, confidence, and competence, every moment of the game. It's about thinking and deciding well every second. Spain is like that driver who inspires confidence, always showing they know what they're doing.

I was writing this article when I received the notification of Luís Represas's passing. But it's not his songs that immediately come to mind. It's the children's book «A Coragem de Tição» (Tição's Courage), published in 2010. Tição is a small seahorse. He lives with his family and friends, surrounded by dangerous and frightening fish. It's through companionship and mutual help with his friends that Tição discovers his inner strength. More than physical bravery or might, the true courage the little seahorse demonstrates comes from solidarity, empathy, and love for others.

Luis de la Fuente, the farmer who, within the federation, sowed the seeds and reaped the rewards. A discreet, serene, wise leader. An excellent manager of egos. This brings to mind a brilliant reflection by Harry S. Truman, former President of the United States: «It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.» Typically, such individuals prefer to enjoy the journey rather than the recognition at the finish line. Especially since the finish line is never absolute; it's always a starting point for another journey.

Six centuries before Christ was born, the philosopher Lao Tzu already argued that «a leader is best when people barely know he exists; When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves…» That is a secret of the masters. Like Luis de la Fuente.