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When the Spanish women’s team won against the Lionesses to become world champions in August 2023, few fans expected it to become the catalyst for social change across the country. Following the unwanted kiss from then FA president Luis Rubiales while the players were collecting their medals, Spain’s leadership was left in ruins.
Rubiales was forced to resign, while it took an entire year for the players to reveal how uncomfortable they felt after the now infamous kiss. National team coach Jorge Vilda also parted ways with La Roja, with growing discontent with his methods, as well as unwanted actions leading to 15 players refusing to play.
With no one other than the assistant to assume the position, it was the Asturian Montse Tomé who was chosen to succeed Vilda. On the one hand, some argued that having a woman leading the women’s team was a great advance for feminism in the country, for the first time in Spain. On the other hand, critics argued that she represented continuity rather than reform, due to her close ties to Vilda.
Most of the criticism of Tome’s mandate, a year later, does not refer to his football management. She has adopted a similar approach, continuing bold football that focuses on putting high pressure on the opposition. Talents like Salma Paraluello broke through (she scored a hat-trick against Belgium in a 7-0 win in April), but this piece would be incomplete without mentioning the other side of Tome.
“At that moment we needed to talk. I think I was honest with them and they were honest with us. The basis for solving things was communicating with them. They know me on a human and professional level.”
Spanish coach Montse Tome reports that she was losing her job. (CS) pic.twitter.com/bt2VwDuPJY
— Soccer Spain (@footballespana_) October 26, 2023
Tomé faced criticism for excluding key members of the World Cup-winning team, including forward Jenni Hermoso. The former Barcelona star responded with a mysterious story, writing ‘Don’t sell your soul to the devil’. Hermoso continues to be excluded from Tome’s squad, which has also led Vero Boquete to criticize the decision, claiming it is proof of her inexperience. Hermoso’s case is not isolated, since Irene Paredes and Misa Rodríguez are usually excluded from the squad for having disagreements with Tome. Many will remember the lack of transparency in the Hermoso case, where Tome did not admit why Hermoso was not selected, refusing to mention his feud with the star.
Most players were not informed in advance about their (non-)selection, but instead found out on social media, which also raises questions about Tome’s leadership.
Despite the controversies, it would be unfair to say that Tome has been devastated since her arrival. 2024 has been another year of success for La Roja. Tomé led Spain to win the Nations League trophy, topping a group consisting of Italy, Sweden and Switzerland. After eliminating the Netherlands in the semifinals (3-0), Spain became champions with a 2-0 victory against France. Players like Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati continue to shine and remain arguably the most important players on the team.
The national women’s soccer coach, Montse Tomé, is the best coach of the year in the Principality of Asturias pic.twitter.com/EOUSnf0l4G
— APDP Asturias (@APDPAsturias) December 9, 2024
Tomé’s team continued to shine in the spring of 2024, qualifying almost without problems for Euro 2025 in Switzerland. In six games, Spain only lost once against the Czech Republic (2-1). However, their success came to an end at the Olympic Games, when Brazil defeated La Roja (4-2), followed by a loss to Germany (2-1) for the bronze medal.
Unfortunately, injuries are forcing Tomé to change his plans for his Euro 2025 team. Alexia Putellas and Alba Redondo were unable to make his Olympic team, while Vicky López is the latest injury victim. The latter scored her first goals against South Korea in their friendly last week at just 18 years old. Tomé reacted by exclaiming “may all the players be healthy in 2025.” La Roja’s next match is scheduled for February 2025, Nations League qualifiers with a lot of excitement, against Belgium, England and Portugal.
There is no doubt that Tome leaves seasoned top stars with doubts, as well as its lack of transparency. In many ways, she does not represent the revolution that many hope to see after the Rubiales fiasco. His rise is the mere result of his connections with his Vilda predecessors and other contacts in the RFEF, another place that for many lacks revolutionary sentiment.
🌟 Only 18 years old is noticeable in front of the cameras.
Vicky López, star of Spain’s two-goal victory, talks about her brilliant game. #SeleccionRTVE
”Thanks to Montse Tomé for the opportunity, not everyone gives such a young player her debut” pic.twitter.com/bc2P4NmO99
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) November 29, 2024
On the other hand, its success is impossible to deny. He led La Roja to win the Nations League trophy and his team remains one of the favorites for Euro 2025. There may be moral questions about his leadership, which are valid, but the success on the field is undeniable: It is often the only factor that football also pays attention to. That was also a refreshing aspect of ‘the 15’ that it resisted misogyny in the federation, even though Spain was winning and yet that didn’t consume all the other problems.
Tomé has also continued to integrate future talents, such as López, who is one of the most important pillars of Spanish football. She may not be perfect – she has questionable communication with key players who complain about her leadership style – but when she arrived she was prepared for controversy. There are not many coaches who take the reins with a rebellion of 15 players underway, now limited to a handful of players, who prefer to exclude some players to avoid another mutiny in the Spanish Caravel. Others, like Boquete, with good connections, could argue that these exclusions are evidence that the biggest change in the last 18 months is the name and face behind the modus operandi.
Reforms will continue in the Iberian Peninsula, although not as quickly as some expected. Tomé is not the sign of a revolution, but of a hopeful reform. Only time will reveal whether she will learn from the early mistakes of her leadership and lead Spanish football and the women who fly its flag to where they expected to be when Tome arrived.
