Spain women's team to replace 15 players threatening to quit over head coach stay

Spain are prepared to play with «younger and less experienced players» after 15 women's internationals threatened to quit if head coach Jorde Vilda is not dismissed, the Spanish FA's female football chief Ana Alvarez has said.

A statement signed by the unsettled players and sent by email to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Thursday said they were «renouncing» the national team as the situation was strongly affecting their «health» and «emotional state.»

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The players have not stated specific reasons for their demand that Vilda be replaced.

RFEF said it would not fold to pressure from any player regarding sporting matters and labelled their actions as being «far from exemplary and out of the values of soccer and sport.»

«If we have to play with younger and less experienced players we will because the national team is above everything,» RFEF female football chief Ana Alvarez said. «This is very, very serious and has never happened before, hence it's unexpected.»

Alvarez said Vilda, who has been in charge since 2015 and is under contract until 2024, has the federation's full support.

«Jorge Vilda is like we all are,» she said. «I spoke to him. This situation is not nice.

»Vilda wants to continue and for sure we want him to continue."

Despite national team's three captains — Irene Paredes, Jenni Hermoso and Patri Guijarro — denying last month that they had asked for Vilda's resignation, tension has been mounting between Spain players and their coach

«They [players] have decided to take this firm step,» Alvarez said. «It's their decision and it's been noted. If they don't want to come and are not committed at this time, that's what it will be. We are not going to