National Team Managers-Part Four (Luis ‘Suarez’ Miramontes (1988/1991))-Part 2 (1989)

Year 1989

By the start of his first full year, Luis Suarez had settled on a squad. Andoni Zubizaretta was the first name on the teamsheet (and would remain so for the another decade).

The center defense comprised of Manuel Sanchis and Genar Andrinua. The right back position appeared to be that of Quique Flores, however, Miguel Chendo was not out of the fight. Manuel Jimenez also appeared to have hold on the other outside back spot.

Michel, Roberto and Rafael Martin Vazquez were set for their spots in midfield.

Emilio Butragueno along with Manolo were the preferred striking duo.

Spain picked up its World Cup qualifying schedule as early as January, when they traveled to Valetta to face Malta on January 22^nd, 1989.

Spain were comfortable winners (2-0) but it came at a cost as Manuel Sanchis was sent off.

Michel had given Spain the lead on a penalty kick in the 16^th minute and Aitor Beguiristain had doubled the lead in the 51^st minute.

However, Sanchis’ second yellow card in the 75^th minute left Spain, a man short, but were never really troubled.

A few weeks, they made another trip abroad to Belfast to face Northern Ireland for their fourth qualifier.

Miguel Chendo was back in the squad as right back and Ricardo Serna started as cover for the suspended Sanchis.

Alberto Gorriz was in the lineup as an extra defensive cover. Suarez decided to start with Jose Maria Bakero instead of the in-form Manolo.

This would be Bakero’s last match for Spain that year, as he would miss many months after a terrible injury.

Spain took an early lead in the 3^rd minute after Genar Andrinua headed in a corner. Afterwards, the Irish attacked in the hopes of getting as a result.

They continued to attack in the second half but Spain held firm.

Luis Suarez was absolutely on the edge and nervous and shouted tactical directions to his defense from the touchline to such an extent that the West German Referee Dieter Pauly sent him off in the 73^rd minute.

Photo From: MARCA_1989-02-09

(Luis Suarez being sent off, February 8, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Northern Ireland 0-Spain 2)

Manolo, who had come on as a late substitute, sealed the points for Spain by scoring near the end.

Suarez had called up Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Vicente Biurrun as the substitute goalkeeper, but he would never earn any caps.

Suarez also called up for the first time a player who would become a legend of Spanish Football. Real Valladolid defender Fernando Hierro was called up to the National Team for the first time, though a first official cap was many months (plus a transfer to Real Madrid) away.

This win over Northern Ireland had been the fourth straight qualifying win under Suarez and qualification appeared certain.

Jackie Charlton, the Republic of Ireland Manager, was in the stands and he admitted as much when he said,  “Spain practically qualified”.

Afterwards Suarez stated, “the essential has been done, that is to win, but the team must improve if it wants to be one of the favorites. Spain has enough quality players to impose and dominate. Against the Irish we were not in such a position. We scored early to guarantee our win, but the manner leaves much to be desired”.

Spain were to host Malta at Sevilla on March 23^rd, 1989, which was a formality.

Manuel Sanchis was back from suspension, but Luis Suarez would not be on the Spanish bench as he was suspended after his sending off in the previous match. Jesus Pereda stood in for Suarez and as predictably Spain won comfortably with two doubles from Michel and Manolo.

Photo From: MARCA_1989-03-24

(Luis Suarez, March 23, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Spain 4-Malta 0)

Michel scored from two dead ball situations. In the 38^th minute, his indirect free kick was deflected in by the wall and in the 67^th minute he scored from his trademark penalty kick.

Afterwards Manolo scored off of two headers in the 73^rd and 81^st minutes. He had now scored four goals for Spain.

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1990

(Manolo celebrating one of his goals, March 23, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Spain 4-Malta 0)

Another one of Suarez’s 1986 stars, Eloy of Valencia was also back in the fold and came on as a second half substitute.

Despite the win, Suarez was not satisfied. He felt they should have imposed their rhythm more and could have scored more goals.

At this point Spain had virtually qualified and a good result vs. Republic of Ireland at Dublin on April 26^th, 1989 would have guaranteed it.

Spain were missing Andrinua in the center of defense and Serna once again filled in as cover.

Luis Suarez was back on the bench, however, the Irish were a different proposition and Spain came down to earth after five straight wins.

Ireland dominated the match throughout, as they desperately needed a result to qualify. In the 16^th minute, Michel diverted Ray Houghton’s cross into the net to hand Ireland the victory.

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1989

(Michel’s own goal, April 26, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-Spain 0)

Photo From: Fussball Magazin

(Spain squad, April 26, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-Spain 0)

Spain were inactive for nearly five months. The new season started with a friendly vs. Poland at Suarez’s hometown of La Coruña on September 20^th, 1989.

Suarez took the opportunity to conduct some experimentations and handed out many debuts. He gave a starting debut to Real Zaragoza winger Francisco Villaroya. He would be a vital cog of the Suarez regime thereafter.

Photo From: Todo Sobre La Seleccion Espanola, Felix Martialay, 2006

(Miguel Chendo, September 20, 1989, Spain 1-Poland 0)

The other debutants came on as substitutes in the second half. These included substitute goalkeeper Ochotorena, as well as Fernando Hierro (now with Real Madrid) and Minguela.

Spain would be victorious in this friendly (1-0) through a strike by Michel (20th minute).

The qualification phase raeched its final phase with two matches vs. Hungary.

The first encounter was at Budapest on October 11^th, 1989.

Spain raced to a two-goal lead by scoring through Julio Salinas (31^st minute) and Michel (36^th minute).

However, Hungary came back to earn a tie through a double by Attila Pinter (39^th, 83^rd minutes).

In the second half, Miguel Pardeza earned his International debut. He was the last member of the famous ‘El Quinta del Buitre’ to earn his cap.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2271, October 17, 1989

(Miguel Chendo, October 11, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary 2-Spain 2)

Pardeza had failed to establish himself at Real Madrid and had left in 1987 and joined Real Zaragoza and made his breakthrough there.

Despite the draw, Spain had officially qualified for the World Cup. Suarez basked in the glory and was jubilant in his moment of triumph in front of Spanish journalists.

He stated that he had his team more or less mapped out. He did have a number of conerns:  to choose between Chendo and Quique Flores for the right back spot, and the long injury layoff of Bakero. Suarez was confident of Spain’s chances and said, “we are going to Italy with a lot of ambition, at this point only Brazil and West Germany are superior to my team”.

Photo From: MARCA_1989-10-12

(Luis Suarez)

The next and final qualifier vs. Hungary on November 15^th, 1989 at Sevilla was inconsequential and was effectively part of Spain’s 1990 World Cup preparations.

Real Zaragoza’s Juanito, Barcelona’s Luis Milla and Valencia’s Fernando earned their International debuts in this match.

Juanito and Fernando celebrated their debuts by both scoring in the comfortable (4-0) win.

Manolo had given Spain the lead (8^th minute), before Butragueno headed in Spain’s second (25^th minute).

Juanito scored from a free kick (40^th minute) and Fernando finished off the scoring (64^th minute).

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 3, 1990

(Fernando, November 15, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Spain 4-Hungary 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 3, 1990

(Spain squad, November 15, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Spain 4-Hungary 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 3, 1990

(Luis Suarez)

The preparations for the World Cup started with a friendly vs. Switzerland on December 13^th, 1989 at Tenerife.

Suarez continued to experiment by handing three more International debuts in the second half to Real Oviedo’s Luis Manuel, Real Valladolid’s Gabriel Moya and Tenerife’s Felipe Minambres.

He also recalled Atletico Madrid pair of Tomas Renones and Francisco Ferreira.

Michel gave Spain the lead with yet another penalty kick in the 43rd minute.

Switzerland tied up the score early in the second half (47th minute) through Adrian Knup.

Felipe Minambres, making his debut in his home stadium, scored Spain’s winner in the 60th minute.

Photo From Diario Avisos 14 diciembre , 1989

(December 13, 1989, Spain 2-Switzerland 1)

Photo From Diario Avisos 14 diciembre , 1989

(Spain squad, December 13, 1989, Spain 2-Switzerland 1)