Following a 2-0 defeat to England in Prague, Czechia head coach Santi Denia exchanged a rare, brief sentiment with his counterpart Thomas Tuchel. As the two managers walked along the touchline, they exchanged the phrase, “See you soon,” a nod to their upcoming rematch at Wembley scheduled just seven days later. This sequence of fixtures, involving travel through Oviedo and Rijeka, underscores the grueling nature of the modern international calendar. Denia expresses frustration with the current structure, noting that managing four matches in 11 days leaves almost no time for training. He observes that he has not yet met a national team manager who favors this congested format. Via Oviedo and Rijeka respectively, they meet again, at Wembley. “Four matches in 11 days, no time to train, for anything; I haven’t heard a single national coach say they like the new setup,” Santi Denia says, but it’s not all bad and there’s a big smile too, seven days later. Yet familiar faces await, warmth in every word, this is the start of a new life. In Oviedo, Denia’s team played his country, his players; in London, for the second time in a week, they play the nation he knows better than any other, more footballers he has seen grown up. “When you work for Spain, it’s normal to cross paths with England,” he says. “There have been many finals, many moments.
For Denia, the current campaign represents a new chapter after a 15-year tenure within the Spanish federation, where he oversaw the development of nearly the entire World Cup-winning squad. Of the 26 players who triumphed for Spain in New Jersey, 23 passed through his tutelage while he managed various age groups, from under-15s to under-23s. These players were essentially his protégés, and their success represents a shared journey that culminated in global glory. Of Spain’s 26 champions in New Jersey, 23 had played under him during his 15 years at the federation, coaching the under-15s, 17s, 19s, 21s and 23s and working across the academy structure: those were his kids lifting the cup, stories to tell about when Rodri was tiny and Lamine Yamal tinier.
Despite his current role with Czechia, Denia retains a profound admiration for English football and the Football Association’s approach to youth development. He highlights his long-standing respect for Phil Foden, whom he describes as a “differential” player, and defends the quality of the current England generation. In his view, the Three Lions are consistently among the world’s elite, sitting just a hair’s breadth away from a major tournament triumph. He points to the FA’s investment in St George’s Park and the commitment to nurturing young talent as the primary drivers of this stability.
Denia’s connections to England run deep. His under-17 side defeated England to secure the 2017 European Championship on penalties, only for England to exact revenge in the World Cup final that same year. Later, in 2023, England overcame Spain in the European under-21 final. When discussing individual talent, Denia is effusive in his praise for Anthony Gordon. Responding to the winger’s recent suggestion that England should avoid copying the Spanish model, Denia expressed genuine awe, stating that Gordon is a remarkable talent on par with stars like Lamine Yamal due to his daring, pace, and intensity.
The Czechia coach emphasizes that coaching at the international youth level is about more than just winning; it requires a pedagogical approach that recognizes the emotional and psychological growth of young athletes. He credits the evolution of the Spanish system to a willingness to trust players like Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal at age 16. This philosophy is something he hopes to instill in his current surroundings, noting that in 2006, Spain’s trophy count was no higher than Czechia’s before they decided to revolutionize their academy structures.
His transition to the Czechia job occurred somewhat serendipitously during the World Cup, where he held discussions with an old friend—former Czech international Radek Bejbl—at a time when Miroslav Koubek had resigned from the national post. Now, Denia finds himself in the unusual position of competing against his own former students, including stars like Rodri, whom he first scouted as an amazing young lad at Atlético de Madrid’s academy. He says, fitting to encounter England, twice, in his first games with Czechia, it was also England against whom he coached his last Spain game in 2025 and it is.
Despite the competitive nature of the Nations League, Denia remains close with Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, jokingly remarking that he often tells his friend, “That’s enough now,” regarding the talent pool at his disposal. He acknowledges that while he wants to beat his former colleagues, the pride of seeing his players reach the senior level and perform on the biggest stage remains unmatched. Having worked alongside colleagues to lay the foundations for this generation, he views the current rivalry as a fitting, if challenging, progression in his managerial career.
