SYDNEY — Jorge Vilda will never forget the night he guided Spain to a first-ever Women’s World Cup title. The La Roja coach was booed by the crowd when he held the trophy aloft and celebrated victory with barely a pat on the back from his players, but despite it all, he was a world champion, and that distinction will mean vindication. Maybe not in the hearts and minds of his players, but if a coach wins a competition as important as the World Cup, they can point to the glittering trophy in response to every criticism or condemnation.
Vilda’s methods, personality and approach to the job might not be popular with many, but he has just delivered a World Cup, arguably the ultimate answer.
Ever since 15 of his players wrote to the Spanish federation (RFEF) last October to raise concerns about Vilda’s management style and other issues behind the scenes, the 42-year-old has been embattled, fending off questions about splits in the squad and why he chose to leave 12 of the so-called “las 15” out of his squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. When his team eliminated the Netherlands in the quarterfinal, only one substitute embraced Vilda at the end. He was ignored by every other player on the pitch.
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