Most of us know what it is to work in a toxic workplace environment. Every morning, you wake up dreading the prospect of going in. Every evening, you go to sleep worried about the next day. The only thing you and your colleagues talk about – over teary pub drinks – is how awful everything is. Now imagine all that, plus the pressure of winning the World Cup.

We might all be cursing them for clinching the trophy against England’s Lionesses, but beyond the pitch, Spain’s women have been fighting a battle against their own management that started long before the current controversy surrounding Luis Rubiales. 

That year-long fight has now come to an end with the firing of the team’s coach Jorge Vilda, although the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has not given a specific reason for Vilda’s dismissal.

In a statement, the RFEF said the move was one of the first “renewal measures” of interim president Pedro Rocha, who has taken over the role temporarily as the result of Rubiales’ suspension last month. “We value [Vilda’s] impeccable personal and sporting conduct, being a key piece in the notable growth of women’s football in Spain,” it said in a statement. “The RFEF would like to express its gratitude for the services provided.”

At time of writing, Vilda is yet to comment on his dismissal.

Here’s everything that’s happened over the last year – and why this moment is so groundbreaking.

As we’ve already mentioned, the controversy that’s unfolded over the last 12 months all revolves around Spain’s coach Jorge Vilda. 

Back in September – two months after England beat Spain 2-1 in the Euro 2022 quarter finals – the Spanish football federation released a statement saying 15 players had complained about Vilda. In identical emails, they said they wouldn’t play for him unless ‘significant’ concerns over their ‘emotional state’ and ‘health’ were addressed.

That was just the start of the drama. Just three of ‘Las 15’, as they’ve come to be known, were picked to play in the World Cup. And, unsurprisingly, the Spanish federation backed Vilda against the players – which meant that the women were essentially on their own when it came to tackling concerns about the behaviour of their coach. 

The issues are twofold. Firstly, players were unhappy at Vilda’s tactics and preparation for the Euros. They claimed his in-game management was non-existent and that his training methods didn’t work. 

Then there were claims around Vilda’s conduct, with players allegedly feeling “controlled”. One Spanish newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, reported that until 2019, the team were forced to keep the doors of their rooms open until midnight, when Vilda would come round to check they were there before turning out the lights. He’s also said to have checked players’ bags whenever they returned from shopping trips, forced players to say who they’re leaving the camp to meet and monitored their movements.  

Speaking ahead of the Women’s World Cup final, former Spain captain Verónica Boquete told the BBC’s World Football At The Women’s World Cup podcast: “In Spain, people have half of their hearts wanting Spain to go all the way and beat everyone and half of their hearts saying, ‘If we lose, it’s OK because we don’t believe some people there deserve to be world champions.’ 

“The players on the field have been fantastic and everyone would be happy for them, [but] not that happy for the rest.

“It’s not easy to be in an environment that’s not a happy place. The players should be really proud of what they are doing. You have to give credit to everyone, but a little bit more to the players.” 

And Vilda – along with his coaching staff – were noticeably absent from on-pitch celebrations. He was, however, captured on film during the quarter-final match against the Netherlands celebrating on his own with his fists clenched, while the players kept their distance.

Images: Getty