The Spanish federation opened its Las Rozas training complex on Monday to mark Luis de la Fuente's new contract as national team coach, running to 2032, in a ceremony attended by RFEF president Rafael Louzán and featuring every trophy De la Fuente has won with Spain's senior and youth sides.
Louzán opened proceedings:
"We have a reference point. Today we're presenting him here so he continues the path that has taken us to glory. We had a mission entrusted to us by a country: to make it very happy.
"What unites this country most is the national team."
Louzán set his sights beyond the immediate future, with Spain due to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
"We're very proud to have reached this agreement. It will take us through to 2032. Every time I see the crest with two stars, I think a third would look great on it. We're going to try, with Luis at the helm, to reach the third one in our own country."
Explaining the choice of 2032 rather than a shorter deal tied to the World Cup, Louzán said: "I was the one who proposed renewing until 2032. I knew everyone had their focus on 2030, but both Luis and his agent viewed it extraordinarily positively. I hope he continues beyond 2032, but the least we could offer him was that."
De la Fuente, who led Spain to the World Cup this summer, appeared alongside every trophy from his time with the federation except the World Cup itself, shown via video link from an exhibition in Málaga. He struck an ambitious tone.
He said, "The best is yet to come. We still have to keep improving and fighting to win. You don't get used to winning. Success comes down to competing, and that's guaranteed. We're not satisfied with what we've achieved so far."
He also paid tribute to relatives who had passed away during his career.
"I remember a lot of people who have been with me on this journey. I remember those who aren't here: my parents and my brother. They enjoyed it a lot, but they would have enjoyed this so much more."
Vicente del Bosque, Rodri, Unai Simón and Mikel Merino sent video messages for the occasion, and De la Fuente, Louzán and assistant Aitor Karanka posed with a Spain shirt bearing the coach's name and the number 2032.