Age of tactical ideologues is over as Spain dominates new era of pragmatism

Luis de la Fuente’s Spain won the Euros by adding a pair of direct wingers to the Guardiola blueprint. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Spain are the European champions. Real Madrid won the Champions League. Rodri won the Ballon d’Or and has only come to seem more important since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Spanish managers won the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 last season. No fewer than five Premier League clubs are managed by Spaniards.

It has been another year of Spanish domination but the manager who more than anybody has been the architect of what is now considered the Spanish style is facing the biggest crisis of his career.