Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro and Irene Paredes have reportedly asked for Spanish national team coach Jorge Vilda to be dismissed. 

Vilda has been in charge of the women’s side since 2015. His contract was extended to 2024 in June, before Spain’s quarter-final exit at Euro 2022.

But Putellas, Guijarro and Paredes, three of Barcelona’s five club captains, allegedly want his tenure to end. 

According to El Confidencial, the trio spoke on the phone to Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales and asked him to fire Vilda. Their efforts were in vain, however, with Rubiales reportedly backing the current manager. 

Putellas, Guijarro and Paredes are apparently unhappy with Spain’s performance at Euro 2022, where they crashed out in the quarter-finals. 

The side were beating hosts England until the 84th minute, before the Lionesses drew level and then found a winner in extra-time.

Spain and England at Euro 2022

It was the third successive time that Spain had exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage. Their campaign for a first major title continues, despite a squad which features some of the best players in the world. 

Vilda has also been questioned for his squad selection. Real Sociedad captain Nerea Eizagirre was among those left out for Euro 2022, even after Putellas was forced to withdraw on the eve of the tournament with an ACL injury. 

The midfielder, who scored 16 goals in the Primera Iberdrola last season, was again left out of Spain’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers which start this week. 

Spain manager Jorge Vilda

"After this year it is better not to give explanations because I think there are none,” Eizagirre told Radio Marco Donosti. "Vilda has his players and takes them, even though they have barely played all year". 

If Vilda was to be dismissed, he would not be the first manager to lose his job after an unsuccessful Euro 2022 campaign. 

Mark Parsons left his post as manager of the Netherlands by mutual consent, while Martin Sjogren resigned as Norway coach after his side failed to progress from the group stage.