The Spanish coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez congratulated the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and his fellow countryman Félix Sánchez for the new appointment, heading to the 2026 World Cup with the Tricolor. “I want to congratulate the FEF and Félix Sánchez and all his excellent coaching staff for starting a project together. I wish them the best on this path they will build from today. Promote Ecuadorian talent to achieve extraordinary results. Let’s go, Tri”, he wrote on his Twitter account.
At one point, Ramírez sounded like a candidate to take the place vacated by Gustavo Alfaro. Still, he ultimately ended up signing for Real Sporting Gijón of Spain. They know each other and are friends, as they met at the Aspire Academy in Qatar. Ramírez spent six years there, of which he was with Sánchez in 2012 and 2013. Afterwards, the new coach of Ecuador continued with the Qatar youth teams. At the same time, Ramírez stayed in that academy until 2018, before working in Ecuador, in Independiente del Valle.