Bicycle rides. Streaming classes. Instagram posts. Trustworthy talks about intercourse, politics and his late daughter.
Luis Enrique, not way back seen as one of the uptight coaches in soccer, has opened up on the World Cup.
He has been extra accessible than ever in Qatar, displaying his lighter aspect and giving unprecedented insights about himself.
Whereas the matches go on, the 52-year-old Luis Enrique has been going out of his strategy to join with followers and speak about probably the most assorted — and controversial — topics.
“Good morning. It’s Day 20 on the coaching camp,” he mentioned in a video filmed by himself and posted on Instagram Saturday.
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“I begin the morning in the absolute best method, going to the gymnasium. It’s about 7:20 a.m. and I want to greet all followers, particularly these in Barcelona who get collectively to observe the matches of the nationwide workforce.” He completed the video by singing a part of a tune that he mentioned represented Spain’s hopes of staying in Qatar till the ultimate.
Luis Enrique has clearly put within the effort to alter his picture.
He shocked everybody when he introduced earlier than the World Cup that he could be performing some reside streaming on Twitch throughout the event. His variety of followers within the platform went from about 50,000 to greater than 790,000 since his announcement.
“Streamers of the world, transfer apart,” he had mentioned.
It’s been throughout his streams that the coach has talked brazenly about some provocative topics.
Luis Enrique mentioned he permits gamers to have intercourse earlier than matches as a result of it’s “one thing very regular’ so long as they don’t get “into an orgy the evening earlier than a match, which might not be superb.” He talked a number of occasions in regards to the relationship of his older daughter with Spain ahead Ferran Torres, joking that he would drop the participant from the squad instantly if he scored a objective after which celebrated in any method alluding to a child.
The coach additionally delved into politics at one level, giving recommendation to native politicians and saying they need to all go away their posts if they will’t fulfil no less than half of their guarantees within the first 12 months.
In one other stream, he didn’t hesitate to reply a fan’s query on whether or not he wore boxers or briefs “I put on thongs! You don’t put on thongs?” he mentioned with a giant chortle.
“It’s a joke — if my spouse sees this she’s going to kill me.” Luis Enrique, who runs Ironman triathlons and has posted a number of pictures of him shirtless and in good condition whereas in Qatar, additionally talked about his eating regimen, meals preferences, courting websites and soccer ideas.
He promised to get a piercing and dye his hair if Spain wins the World Cup.
The coach mentioned he’ll ultimately donate what he earns along with his streams.
On Instagram, Luis Enrique has typically posted photographs of his bicycle rides in Qatar, together with one by the Lusail Stadium the place the World Cup ultimate might be performed — he mentioned “hopefully we’ll be there” to attempt to win the title.
Luis Enrique has all the time been an avid biker, and in a call-up of Spain’s squad earlier than the World Cup, he introduced the names of the gamers in a prerecorded video whereas pedalling via backcountry roads close to Madrid.
It was in one of many posts of his rides that Luis Enrique remembered his late daughter Xana Martínez, who died three years in the past from a uncommon type of bone most cancers. He despatched her properly needs from his bike in Qatar the day she would have turned 13.
Later in a post-match information convention, Luis Enrique opened up in regards to the “big day” for him and his household.
“Clearly we don’t have our daughter with us bodily anymore, however she remains to be current day-after-day,” he mentioned.
“We keep in mind her loads, we chortle and take into consideration how she would act in every state of affairs that we expertise.” The previous Barcelona participant and coach briefly left the nationwide workforce after discovering out about his daughter’s most cancers.
That is Luis Enrique’s first World Cup as a coach, and he’s making an attempt to steer Spain to its second world title. La Roja will face Morocco within the spherical of 16 on Tuesday.
Some have mentioned Luis Enrique’s change has been a part of an even bigger advertising and marketing technique by the Spanish soccer federation to enhance the picture of the nationwide workforce. However he ensures it has all come very naturally to him.
“That is me,” he mentioned, dismissing a fan who instructed the coach was drunk whereas streaming.