Jorge Vilda Named Morocco Women’s Coach After Being Fired By Spain

Jorge Vilda has been named the new coach of Morroco’s women’s team just over a month after the Spanish federation fired him amid the fallout from Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso without consent after the World Cup final.

Vilda, who had been in charge of Spain since 2015, led them to the Women’s World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand this year. However, the 42-year-old had a maligned image due to his coaching methods.

Vilda had been facing criticism since last year when 15 players, popularly known as ‘Las 15’, called for his resignation over “inadequate coaching methods” and his creation of a “dictatorial” environment.

Vilda, who was reportedly a close ally of Rubiales, was fired by the Royal Spanish Football Federation in early September, merely 16 days after leading the team to the World Cup win.

Rubiales had praised Vilda for the World Cup triumph and offered him a new four-year contract, but that was in vain as Vilda was fired while Rubiales resigned after weeks of defending himself against claims of sexual misconduct.

Vilda is being investigated as part of the criminal case against Rubiales, who denies charges of sexual assault and coercion.

Spanish media have reported that Vilda is being investigated for his part in the alleged coercion of Hermoso, who said pressure was put on her, her family and her friends to defend Rubiales’ actions. Vilda has denied this.

Morocco Role

Vilda will replace Reynald Pedros as Morocco’s new coach. Under Pedros, Morocco played their first Women’s World Cup this year and reached the round of 16, where they lost to France.

Morocco made it out of the group stage at the expense of former champions Germany and South Korea. Their performance was one of the highlights of the World Cup, where minnows challenged the heavyweights in an expanded pool.

“The Royal Moroccan Football Federation contracted with the Spanish coach, [Jorge Vilda], to coach the women’s national football team in the next stage, succeeding Mr Reynald Pedros, whose duties ended, with thanks extended to him for the work he accomplished during his mission at the helm of the women’s national football team, especially the qualification to the second round of the World Cup tournament,” a statement from the Moroccan federation said, according to the Press Association.

ESPN reported that Vilda is expected to be officially presented as the Morocco coach this weekend.

His first games in charge will be later this month when Morocco face Namibia over two legs in the second round of the CAF Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament.

Criticism

Morocco’s decision to appoint Vilda has been met with criticism from fans and the media.

Kathryn Batte, women’s football correspondent for the Daily Mail newspaper, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Shocking, yet not shocking, that Jorge Vilda is allowed to just walk into another job in women’s football.”

Shireen Ahmed, a senior contributor at CBC Sports, posted: “Jorge Vilda has been hired to coach the Moroccan women’s side. This move is bizarre to me and I’m sure many others.”