Football/ Jorge Vilda takes the helm of Morocco women’s team amid controversy
Jorge Vilda, the former Spain women’s national team manager who led the squad to a Women’s World Cup victory but was later dismissed, has been appointed as the head coach of the Morocco women’s team. Vilda’s tenure with the Spanish team came to an abrupt end following a scandal involving Luis Rubiales.
The 42-year-old coach, who was a key figure in Spain’s World Cup triumph, will now take the helm of Morocco’s women’s national team.
Vilda’s appointment follows the departure of Reynald Pedros, the previous Morocco women’s coach, who played a significant role in helping the team qualify for their first Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Under Pedros’ guidance, Morocco reached the last 16 of the tournament, where they were ultimately defeated by France.
In an official statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation expressed its gratitude to Pedros for his achievements, particularly the historic qualification to the World Cup’s second round.
The Women’s World Cup final, where Spain triumphed over England with a 1-0 victory, became infamous due to an incident involving Luis Rubiales, the former Spanish football federation (RFEF) president, who was accused of a non-consensual kiss with forward Jenni Hermoso.
Jorge Vilda, who was closely associated with Rubiales, is currently under investigation in connection with the criminal case against the former RFEF president, who denies charges of sexual assault and coercion.
It has been reported in the Spanish media that Vilda is being probed for his alleged involvement in pressuring Hermoso, her family, and her friends to support Rubiales, a claim he vehemently denies.
Vilda’s tenure as the head coach of the Spanish national team was marred by a player «revolt» in September 2022.
At that time, 15 players submitted identical emails to the RFEF expressing concerns about their emotional well-being and health, demanding significant improvements in these areas.
Although the players, known as «Las 15, » denied requesting Vilda’s dismissal, tensions emerged regarding training methods and game preparation, leading to a turbulent period in Spanish women’s football.
Source: bbc.com
