The former manager of Spain’s women’s national soccer team has been hired to the same role by Morocco.
The Atlas Lionesses announced the hiring of Jorge Vilda as head coach on Thursday. The team shared the news on Instagram with a photo of Vilda holding up his World Cup medal from when La Roja beat England 1-0 for their first championship this summer.
Vilda was relieved of his duties by Spain last month in the wake of the scandal touched off by Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who kissed a player without her consent during the World Cup medal ceremony. Two weeks after saying he wouldn’t step down from his role, Rubiales resigned.
Why is Jorge Vilda controversial?
Before his ousting, the Spanish women’s national team refused to play after Vilda defended Rubiales. The federation president refused to step down after forcing a kiss upon Jenni Hermoso during Spain’s World Cup ceremony.
In September 2022, 15 players sent emails to the Spanish soccer federation threatening to leave the team. They listed concerns with how they were being treated and called for Vilda’s termination.
Vilda was named the manager and sporting director of the Spain women’s national team in 2015.
Morocco fires Reynald Pedros
The announcement of Vilda taking on his new role with Morocco comes alongside the news that Reynald Pedros was ousted from the position. The Frenchman led the Atlas Lionesses to the knockout round of the World Cup after they won their first match ever in the tournament. They were also the runner-up in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
In their first games since the World Cup, Morocco played two friendlies in September against Zambia. They lost both matches 2-0 and 6-2.
“The book closes and I am very disappointed not to continue my mission with the Moroccan national team,” Pedros said in French on X. “But, so proud to have put this team on top of the world.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-Spain manager Jorge Vilda hired by Morocco women’s soccer team
