Is Jenni Hermoso’s Spain Career Over?

New Coach Sonia Bermudez ‘Starting from Scratch’ in Hint There’s No Room for World Cup-Winning Forward

When Sonia Bermudez walked onto the stage at the Spanish Football Federation headquarters in Las Rozas on Tuesday morning, the atmosphere was a mix of nostalgia and anticipation.

A familiar face in Spanish football — and one of its finest players of the last generation — the 40-year-old was officially presented as the new head coach of the Spain women’s national team, replacing Montse Tomé.

But while her appointment marks a fresh start for La Roja Femenina, her comments at the unveiling raised one big question that immediately dominated headlines and social media alike:

Is Jenni Hermoso’s Spain career over?

Bermudez Presented as New Spain Coach

Few know the Spanish game better than Sonia Bermudez. A six-time league champion, a former Barcelona and Atlético Madrid forward, and a member of the golden generation that built the foundations of Spain’s current dominance, she has spent the last four years quietly preparing for this moment.

Since retiring in 2020, Bermudez has completed her UEFA Pro License, guided Spain’s U-19, U-20, and U-23 teams, and served as a key link between the youth and senior squads. Her rise through the federation’s coaching structure has been deliberate, even inevitable.

Now, after Tomé led Spain to a runners-up finish at the 2025 Women’s Euro, Bermudez takes charge on a two-year deal that runs through the 2027 World Cup.

Her challenge? To continue Spain’s ascent while redefining what comes next for a team that has already conquered the world.

And central to that conversation is the future of Jennifer Hermoso, the country’s all-time leading scorer — a player Bermudez once shared the dressing room with.

Hermoso’s Future in Doubt

Tigres UANL v Monterrey – Playoffs Torneo Apertura 2024 Liga MX Femenil

When asked about the 35-year-old forward, Bermudez spoke with warmth and respect — but also a deliberate vagueness.

“I’m not going to reveal who Jennifer Hermoso is,” she said with a half-smile. “She’s a legend, the national team’s top scorer, who’s now in Mexico. But you’ll have to wait for the list.”

It was a diplomatic response, but one that left many feeling uneasy.

“We’re starting from scratch,” Bermudez continued. “We want to focus on the project, and we’re going to try to bring in the best players. We’re following all the players and monitoring them every week. When the list arrives, we’ll talk about all of them.”

In other words: no guarantees — not even for the greatest scorer in Spain’s history.

For Hermoso, who currently plays for Tigres UANL in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, the message seemed clear. Despite her legendary status, her place in the national setup is no longer assured.

The End of an Era?

It’s hard to overstate Jenni Hermoso’s impact on Spanish football.

Since making her debut in 2012, she’s earned 123 caps and scored 57 goals — more than any other player, male or female, in Spain’s history.

Her record is remarkable not only for its longevity but for its consistency. She has finished as the top scorer in Spain’s top flight five times, and her creativity and vision helped shape the modern identity of La Roja.

Hermoso was at the heart of Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2023, winning the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player and providing three goals and two assists.

Yet, despite all of that, she found herself omitted from Spain’s squad for Euro 2025.

It was a shock — especially considering she had been joint top-scorer in qualifying, tied with rising star Salma Paralluelo. Instead, the forward line for the Euros featured Esther González, Alba Redondo, Claudia Pina, and Mariona Caldentey.

The decision hinted at a generational shift — and possibly, the quiet closing of a chapter that once defined Spanish women’s football.

‘Starting from Scratch’

Bermudez’s mantra — “starting from scratch” — could prove to be both revolutionary and ruthless.

Spain’s women’s program is at a crossroads. The team has achieved unprecedented success over the past three years, but it’s also been marked by internal divisions, leadership changes, and lingering scars from the federation scandal that overshadowed their World Cup celebrations.

Appointing Bermudez — a player known for her discipline, intelligence, and empathy — is a move toward stability. Yet, her insistence on a clean slate suggests that no player, regardless of reputation, will be exempt from scrutiny.

“She’s always been about merit,” one former teammate told Marca. “Even when she was captain, she expected everyone to earn their place — including herself. That’s what she’ll bring as a coach.”

That could be bad news for veterans like Hermoso, Irene Paredes, and even Alexia Putellas, all of whom are approaching the twilight of their international careers.

Spain’s New Era of Talent

If Bermudez decides to move forward without Hermoso, she won’t be short on options.

Spain’s youth system has become a factory of world-class talent, producing stars like Salma Paralluelo, Aitana Bonmatí, Claudia Pina, Lucía García, and Vicky López — players who blend technical brilliance with the physical intensity that defines the modern game.

The U-20 and U-23 teams under Bermudez were particularly known for their tactical sophistication and attacking fluidity — qualities she’s expected to bring to the senior squad.

Insiders say her style emphasizes quick transitions, vertical passing, and high pressing — a more aggressive evolution of Spain’s traditional possession-heavy approach.

That shift could explain why older, more methodical forwards like Hermoso might find themselves out of place in the new system.

The Legend’s Dilemma

Still, for Hermoso, the prospect of being phased out stings.

After everything she’s given to the national team — the goals, the leadership, the resilience — she’s more than just a footballer. She’s a symbol of Spain’s transformation from underdogs to world champions.

The bond between her and the fans remains strong. Every time she pulls on the red jersey, there’s an unspoken connection — a shared memory of triumph and struggle.

Yet, time waits for no one, not even legends.

And if Bermudez is truly starting from scratch, Hermoso’s legacy may shift from active leader to eternal icon — her story complete, her torch passed on to a new generation.

When Do Spain Play Their First Games Under Bermudez?

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The new era begins soon.

Bermudez will make her senior managerial debut on October 24, when Spain host Sweden in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Nations League semi-final — a fixture that feels almost poetic.

Four days later, the return leg will take place in Sweden.

For Bermudez, these matches are not just about tactics or results — they’re about identity. About showing that Spain can evolve without losing the artistry and flair that made them world champions.

For Hermoso, meanwhile, the wait continues. Whether her name appears on that first squad list may well decide the fate of her international career.

What Comes Next

Football, as Bermudez herself knows better than anyone, is a cycle of renewal. One generation fades, another rises. The challenge lies in managing that transition without losing the essence that made you great in the first place.

Spain stand on the edge of that transition now. Bermudez represents the bridge between past and future — between the generation of Hermoso and Putellas, and the one led by Paralluelo and Bonmatí.

The question remains: will she build that bridge with Jenni Hermoso still walking across it, or will the striker’s journey with La Roja end where it began — as a beloved figure watching from afar?

Whatever happens, one thing is certain: Hermoso’s influence on Spanish football will outlast any squad list.

She may not wear the red jersey again, but she’ll forever be woven into its fabric — the goals, the glory, and the grace that brought Spain to the top of the world.

And as Sonia Bermudez begins her reign, she’ll do so standing on the shoulders of legends like Hermoso — the women who made Spain not just champions, but believers.