India, July 22 -- At first glance, Luis de la Fuente could easily be mistaken for a college professor - calm, measured and scholarly, hardly the sort of figure who intimidates his pupils. Yet the 65-year-old grew up in an era when Spanish football was decided by who survived the tackle, not who passed around it. As Athletic Club's left-back, he made 196 appearances across the 1980s and early 1990s and was on the pitch the day Andoni Goikoetxea shattered Diego Maradona's ankle in the infamous "Butcher of Bilbao" match.

Four decades later, De la Fuente built Spain's calmest and most complete side. They conceded just one goal throughout the World Cup, the fewest ever by a men's champion, and reclaimed football's biggest prize by playing wit...