Jorge Vilda, recently dismissed coach of the Spanish women's national team and World Cup champions, has vowed to fight his dismissal. He claims to have a contract extending his tenure with the team until 2028.
The 42-year-old was fired on Tuesday in the wake of the fallout from the Jenni Hermoso 'kiss-gate' scandal. He was a close ally of the Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales who was also suspended following his kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent at the Women World Cup Final.
Vilda, who cheered Rubiales on during his now-famous speech in which he insisted he would not resign, has vowed to take legal action to challenge his dismissal.
Despite Vilda's unpopularity among the players and their refusal to play for the national team while he was in charge, Rubiales extended his contract in that speech.
Vilda told Relevo, 'I consider myself a coach until 2028. This is what my lawyers tell me and even more so when there was already a prior and consensual agreement in the Assembly.'
'In the Assembly, it is said publicly, but previously that contract had been perfected with a four-year renewal.'
Vilda stated, "In sporting terms, I am going to accept all the criticisms, but on a personal level, I think it has been unfair," in a separate interview with Cadena SER.
'It has been a special year. Nothing has ever been said directly but indirectly things have been said that do not suit me. Things have been said that are not true.'
'I am as well as can be after being fired after being world champion 10 days ago. I have been fired, I think, unjustly.
'I have a clear conscience. I have given 100% and I don't understand it. I didn't see my termination as deserved.'
Rubiales claimed to have initiated a four-year contract offering Vilda the manager's salary of "half a million euros," but 11 days later, Vilda was fired.
This was one of the reasons he applauded Rubiales' speech, he said, though he was quick to clarify that he did not endorse the views of the speaker.
Vilda said, "The first thing I want to make clear is that I will never applaud anything sexist," in an interview with Spanish radio host Manu Carreno.
'I didn't know very well why I was going to that Assembly. I thought there was going to be a resignation. I will never applaud anything that goes against feminism and against the fight for equality and equity.'
'The president is valuing your work and announcing your renewal, I applauded that. I also applaud Rubiales' management of the women's football, with a budget that has multiplied by four.'
'When 150 people around you applaud it is very difficult to be the only one who doesn't.'
Less than two weeks after leading his team to a World Cup victory, Vilda was fired on Tuesday.
Vilda was already a divisive figure in charge of the Spanish Women's team before the 'kiss-gate' scandal.
Fifteen players in September 2022 sent emails to the team complaining about their mental and physical well-being while interacting with Vilda.
Of those 15, only three were available for the World Cup finals.
After firing Vilda, the team hired Montse Tome as its first female head coach.
