Spain’s women’s national soccer team has appointed Sonia Bermúdez as the new head coach, replacing Montse Tomé just two weeks after the team reached the European Championship final.
The Spanish soccer federation announced on Monday that Tomé’s contract will not be renewed. Iraia Iturregi, another former Spain player, will serve as the team’s assistant coach.
This coaching change follows Spain’s hard-fought loss to England in the Euro 2025 final on July 27, decided by a penalty shootout. The federation’s board made the decision shortly after the tournament ended.
Tomé took over from Jorge Vilda after Spain’s 2023 World Cup win. She led the team to victory in the first-ever Women’s Nations League in 2024. Her contract was set to expire at the end of this month.
As the first woman to coach Spain’s senior women’s team, Tomé had previously worked as Vilda’s assistant during the World Cup. She was promoted amid the fallout from a scandal involving former federation president Luis Rubiales, who was convicted of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent during the World Cup awards ceremony in Australia.
Since Rubiales’ conviction, Spain’s women’s soccer has seen greater stability and progress. The scandal sparked nationwide calls for better support for female athletes and led sports authorities to update outdated rules affecting the women’s team.
Sonia Bermúdez brings a strong background to her new role. A former Spain international, she played for top clubs like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before retiring in 2020. Recently, Bermúdez coached Spain’s youth teams, including the under-23 squad.
Her appointment reflects the federation’s focus on fresh leadership with deep ties to Spanish women’s soccer.
