Madrid - The Spanish football federation said on Wednesday that national team manager Vicente del Bosque had agreed to extend his contract until 2012.
"The rule of the house has always been that the contract of the national manager is extended after qualifying for the World Cup finals, whatever happens in the tournament," said Angel Maria Villar, the president of the federation at its annual Christmas dinner with the media.
Villar added that "Del Bosque has managed to take our team to the highest place (in the Fifa rankings), and has known how to handle the rich inheritance that he received".
Villar continued his after-dinner speech by saying that 2009 had been a "spectacular year" because of the centenary of the federation, and because of the results obtained.
"We have qualified for the World Cup finals brilliantly, we are the leaders in the world rankings and we have won every match except against the United States (a 2-0 loss in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup)."
With regard to Spain's prospects at the World Cup, Villar said that "there is a lot of hope, we have a great team".
"But words are one thing and actions another thing. We will go with illusion, enjoying the fact that millions of Spaniards want us to be the champions of the world."
Villar finished by wishing Del Bosque a happy birthday. He is 59 on Wednesday.
Del Bosque, ever calm and composed, has done even better in charge of "La Seleccion" than even his closest friends and supporters hoped.
He took over in July 2008 just after Spain had elegantly won the European Championship in Vienna, when the explosive Luis Aragones - annoyed at Villar not offering him a contract extension earlier - signed for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Del Bosque has wisely kept faith with the little ball players - men like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Silva and David Villa - who took Europe by storm in 2008, and has gradually added to the mix ambitious youngsters like Gerard Pique, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente.
He became the first national manager to win every single match in one of the European six-team World Cup qualifying groups - and can now prepare for South Africa safe in the knowledge that he will be staying in the job until 2012. - Sapa-DPA
Source:iol.co.za/
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