The national soccer coach, Luis de la Fuente, inaugurated the University Diploma of Expert in Leadership and Civic Commitment CEU-CEFAS University with a talk with the director of the diploma, María San Gil.
"It is a responsibility and obligation to say openly what one thinks. In that responsibility I am obligated to freely acknowledge that I am a Catholic and believe in God. Within the diversity that exists, I want to be respected and to be there too, not to be left out". This was explained by the national coach, who thanked the values and education received from his family to become the person he is today. “Thanks to my family and religion, I don't know what pride, selfishness or resentment are," he expressed.
De la Fuente assured that in his dictionary the word ‘failure’ doesn´t exist and that he lives life with passion, always working to be a better person every day. In this sense, the coach pointed out that “ the best compliment that I have received is that I am low profile; I have forged my own path based on work, dedication and humility” He pointed out the importance of not just managing good professionals, but also good people. “If you manage good people, who believe in you, everything is easier” he stated.
Within the success achieved during his recent years as a coach, De La Fuente emphasized the importance of leadership. “I don’t believe in leadership, I don’t like the order of command. I understood that it was not the formula. The leader doesn’t impose, he attracts. I try to lead a group of people in a democratic way, even though I am the one who decides, I listen to everyone and then we evaluate. Everyone feels involved in a good environment”
In conclusión, De la Fuente, who pointed out “chance is a pseudonym for God when he does not want to appear”, assured us that one of the greatest moments is to see people celebrating with the Spanish flag.
During his intervention, the director of the Diploma, María San Gil, announced that De La Fuente is the recipient of the CEU Ángel Herrera ‘Ethics and Values’ Award, an award that the Foundation of CEU San Pablo University gives annually. This distinction has been awarded to De La Fuente for normalizing both publicly and daily the recognition of his values, principles and beliefs. For speaking openly about his faith and considering this aspect as a fundamental part of his life. And for having become, through example, a reference for the new generation in making respect an essential element of coexistence.
With this session, we open the fifth edition of this Diploma of Expert in Leadership and Civic Commitment, an innovative and exclusive training initiative designed for those with political and cultural concerns who want to receive solid training in the field of liberal-conservative ideas and organized by the CEU-CEFAS Centre for Studies,Training and Social Analysis.
CEU Angel Herrera Awards
The CEU Angel Herrera Awards, given annually by the San Pablo CEU University Foundation, honour the labour and work of people, institutions and companies that have made a contribution to the improvement of society and the promotion of the common good. These awards are named after the founder of the Catholic Association of Propagandists (ACdP) and the Foundation, the prelate Ángel Herrera.
In previous editions, the ‘Ethics and Values’ award has gone to the sportsmen Rafael Nadal, Pau Gasol and Vicente del Bosque, cardiologist Valentín Fuster, Mexican producer Eduardo Verástegui and institutions such as Caritas España, Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada España, Fundación Aladina and the Madrid-San José Centre of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor, among others.