Spain set to confirm appointment of former Barcelona coach as national team boss

Luis Enrique is set to replace Fernando Hierro

Spain are set to hire José Enrique as the new manager of the national team, according to reports in Spain, after Fernando Hierro declined an offer to stay in the role. Hierro stepped in with just two days to go before the World Cup started after the Spanish FA sacked Julen Lopetegui amid the chaos sparked by the announcement that he would take over at Real Madrid after the tournament. After a disastrous World Cup campaign, in which Spain only won one match - against Iran - Hierro decided against staying in the role and will not return to his old position as sporting director. Luis Rubiales, head of the Spanish FA, will reportedly suggest appointing Luis Enrique as the new boss in a meeting on Monday morning, although Roberto Martínez and Quique Sánchez Flores have also been considered as potential candidates. Luis Enrique has played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as managing Celta Vigo, Roma, and winning the Champions League with Barcelona in 2014/15. Enrique is expected to sign a two-year deal to take him through to Euro 2020. He has been out of work since leaving Barça last summer but has since been linked with Chelsea and Arsenal before Unai Emery filled the vacancy left by Arsène Wenger.