Spain’s latest national team selection for the November international break surprisingly comes with a notable absence: no players from&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/">Real Madrid</a>&nbsp;made the roster. This marks the first time since October 2021 that Spain’s squad lacks representation from the club, and it raises questions about the current state of this soccer giant. For Madrid, a team with a historic legacy of fielding top Spanish talent, the exclusion has led many to wonder if this signals a downturn for one of the world’s most prestigious clubs.



Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s head coach, announced the team roster without a single Madrid player, which largely reflects the club’s lack of available talent for the national squad. Injuries have sidelined&nbsp;Dani Carvajal&nbsp;for the season, and other recent departures, such as Joselu and Nacho, left a gap in Los Blancos’ contributions to Spain’s team. De la Fuente could still consider other players like Jesus Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Lucas Vazquez, or Dani Ceballos in the future, but for now, they haven’t made the cut.



The last time La Roja went without Madrid players was during the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League in 2021, under&nbsp;Luis Enrique. At the time, they managed to defeat Italy in the semifinals but fell short to France in the final. This decision was widely discussed, as it marked a significant departure from tradition; Madrid’s top players had always been pivotal to the national team’s success, representing both Spanish and Madridista values on the international stage. But today, a noticeable shift is underway.



<h2>Shift away from legacy of producing top talent</h2>



The 2023-24 La Liga winners have long been known for their success in producing or signing Spain’s top players, with icons like&nbsp;Raul, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, and Fernando Hierro&nbsp;defining both club and country. Known for their fighting spirit and strategic play, these icons contributed immensely to La Roja’s successes and Madrid’s record-breaking legacy as&nbsp;15-time Champions League winners. However, the team’s recent academy system hasn’t matched the talent output of prior generations, and players once integral to the Spanish national team’s strength are no longer present.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241109_WST_539056_Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-1200x675_6279f4e9.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-539068" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-740x416.jpg 740w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-490x275.jpg 490w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2-250x140.jpg 250w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Spains-national-team-without-Real-Madrid-Sign-of-decline-for-reigning-Champions-League-winners-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



The current situation points to a larger issue within the development strategy at the Santiago Bernabeu. Historically, its youth academy has consistently produced players who go on to become stars for both the Whites and Spain. The drop-off in recent years is leaving La Roja without its traditional backbone of Madridistas, and the team’s identity has subtly shifted toward the Valencian Community, Basque Country, and Catalonia, which currently contributes <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelonas-rising-star-under-flick-joins-lamine-yamal-in-spains-national-team/">22 of the 26 players in this squad</a>.



<h2>All-time low or temporary setback?</h2>



Although Real Madrid has built an unmatched history with Spanish soccer, recent results suggest that their dominance may be fading. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/carlo-ancelotti/">Carlo Ancelotti</a>’s side’s defensive issues have been increasingly concerning, evidenced by uncharacteristic losses to&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;and&nbsp;Milan&nbsp;in the Spanish capital, conceding seven goals in total—a feat not seen in 15 years. The issue wasn’t just in being outscored but in the way Madrid appeared disorganized and lacked their usual cohesion and determination, frustrating loyal supporters. This lackluster performance mirrored the club’s absence from the Ballon d’Or gala, adding to the perception of Real Madrid’s recent struggles.



While it’s hard to pinpoint if Madrid is experiencing an all-time low, the current absence of its players in La Roja does bring to light the need for a strategic refocus. As the club grapples with questions about talent development and tactical direction, fans are left to wonder how Real Madrid will return to its former glory. Spain’s current national roster might represent a new era, but whether Madrid will adapt and rebuild to contribute more to Spain’s squad—or risk becoming a secondary player in the future of Spanish soccer—remains to be seen.

Spain’s national team without Real Madrid: Sign of decline for reigning Champions League winners?

Spain’s national team without Real Madrid: Sign of decline for reigning Champions League winners? - World Soccer Talk

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The search for the next USMNT head coach is always <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/confirmed-us-soccer-reach-out-to-klopp-about-usmnt-job/">taking turns</a>, and one new aim for the side could be Rafa Benitez. As one of the top coaches of the last 20 years, Rafa Benitez has had managerial success in both Spain and England. His resume includes stops at Liverpool, Real Madrid and clubs in Serie A. He had varying success with different clubs, but he remains one of the top coaches without a club or country. Guillem Balague, a renowned Spanish journalist, has pipped Rafa Benitez as a sensible option to fill the void at the USMNT. 



The USMNT has lacked direction at the top. At times, the side has looked disjointed between the Federation and the players on the field. Gregg Berhalter never fit that role, instead playing up to US Soccer during his lengthy tenure with the USMNT. In Balague’s eyes, Benitez could be that person. 



“Rafael Benitez is someone who would bring [the USMNT] a manager or a coach who would make the team better,” Balague said on <a href="https://x.com/golazo_america/status/1812841365333528650" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CBS’s Morning Footy</a>. “He’s got the bigger picture in his head. He has been a manager in England, China where he developed the academy as well as the first team. Of course, he comes from Spain and has been at the academy of Real Madrid. Imagine if he put all that not just in the men’s first team, but also in the Federation.”



That is what makes Benitez such a fascinating candidate should US Soccer reach out to him. Benitez would take his experience as a first-team coach for nearly the last 30 years and apply it to the USMNT and US Soccer as a whole.



“He would not just want to be the coach,” Balague said. “He would be a guy that helps develop football in the United States.”



<h2>Does Rafa Benitez have a strong enough resume for the USMNT?</h2>



The concern with Benitez, if US Soccer were to offer him a contract, is if he would be <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/managers-like-players-lose-touch-and-ability-as-their-careers-age/">a good fit with the USMNT</a>. His stops at clubs in Europe often end prematurely. Poor results have led to midseason firings multiple times. That is what happened at Everton and Celta Vigo, the two jobs he held most recently. 



However, tournaments are somewhere Benitez has done well. The standout of those is the UEFA Champions League triumph in 2005 with Liverpool. That was not necessarily the strongest team in England, let alone Europe. However, Benitez pulled out one of the biggest comebacks in soccer history by defeating AC Milan in Istanbul that year. He also won the Europa League and reached another Champions League Final during his career. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240715_WST_516589_Benitez-national-team-1200x675_d5244f63.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-516604" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Benitez-national-team-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Benitez-national-team-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Benitez-national-team-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Benitez-national-team-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Benitez-national-team.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Tournaments are key for any national team as coaches have minimal time with their players. Benitez has never coached a national team, but he would be a recognizable name that the USMNT could need to jumpstart a period of success.



<h2>The other Spanish coach linked to the USMNT</h2>



Talk of Benitez arose after another Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente, said he was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/07/14/luis-de-la-fuente-usmnt-coaching-job/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interested in joining the USMNT</a>. The current Spanish national team head coach just won <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-euro/barcelona-build-on-spains-euro-2024-momentum-with-elite-talent/">Euro 2024</a>, so it was a shock to see reports linking him to the United States.



Balague pointed to the fact that de La Fuente is on very low wages with Spain. His rumors to move to the United States could be an easy way for his team to bump his wages after delivering Spain its fourth European Championship title. Consider it similar to a player demanding better wages, so the rumors begin swirling over a potential move. Balague does not see it as realistic that de le Fuente would want to leave Spain, particularly with the success a relatively young side showed at Euro 2024.



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Spanish soccer expert tips Rafa Benitez for USMNT job

The search for the next USMNT head coach is always taking turns, and one new aim for the side could be Rafa Benitez.

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Spain’s national team without Real Madrid: Sign of decline for reigning Champions League winners?

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Spanish soccer expert tips Rafa Benitez for USMNT job