World Cup managers are falling like dominoes in Qatar, with Spain's boss becoming the latest casualty
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- Luis Enrique resigned as Spain's manager after the team's exit from the World Cup.
- It comes after the coaches of Belgium, Mexico, Ghana, and South Korea also stepped down.
- Spain was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Morocco.
Luis Enrique joined the growing list of managerial casualties from the World Cup in Qatar on Thursday, stepping down from his position as Spain's head coach.
The 52-year-old, who had been in charge of Spain since 2018, announced his resignation after his side was eliminated from the World Cup by Morocco in the Round of 16.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) thanked Enrique for his service in a statement.
"The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects," it said. "The coach earns the love and admiration of his collaborators in the national team and of the entire Federation, which will always be his home."
Enrique's departure comes after Roberto Martinez and Gerardo Martino both stepped down as the head coaches of Belgium and Mexico, respectively, following their teams' early exits from the tournament.
Martinez left his position, which he had held since 2016, after his side crashed out in the group stage, finishing third behind Croatia and Morocco in Group F.
"It's been a real joy. I'm so proud of these players," Martinez said after Belgium's World Cup exit. "It's been amazing, it's been six years that we have been able to do everything you want to do in a club in a national team and that makes me extremely proud. We love the way this team has played."
Like Martinez, Martino left his role after El Tri failed to make it out of its group.
"I am first responsible for this terrible disappointment and frustration that we have," the former FC Barcelona coach said. "As the person in charge, it causes a lot of sadness. I fully assume responsibility for this great failure."
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Both Otto Addo and Paolo Bento have also left their positions as the managers of Ghana and South Korea, respectively – but it is Enrique's departure which stands out so far.
A former player for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, Enrique took charge of Spain following the 2018 World Cup, replacing his old Madrid teammate Fernando Hierro.
In his first major tournament in charge at Euro 2020, he guided Spain to the semifinals, where it was beaten by eventual winner Italy.
As such, hopes were high for the team heading into Qatar.
Things got off to a perfect start in its opening match, with Enrique's young side thrashing Costa Rica 7-0. However, a lackluster draw with Germany was then followed by a shocking 2-1 defeat to Japan.
Spain qualified for the Round of 16 as Group E runner-up, but it again flattered to deceive against Morocco, losing by a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague said after Spain's exit that Enrique's team did not have enough "layers" to succeed.
"At the World Cup, Spain didn't shoot outside the box," he said. "They were not good at set-pieces. They were not physically strong. They did not have enough pace to their football. They did not put crosses in because they did not have anyone to finish them.
"There were limits to what they could do. We saw a bad version of what Luis Enrique wanted to impose."
On Enrique's legacy, Balague added: "He leaves behind a thought pattern of not dramatizing wins and losses. There is also a good quality squad for the next manager to build on."