Real Madrid announce Julen Lopetegui as new head coach Spain boss to replace Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu Last Updated: 12/06/18 7:53pm
Spain coach Julen Lopetegui will take over as Real Madrid boss after the World Cup.
The 51-year-old, who has been in charge of the national team for the past two years, has agreed a three-year contract at the Bernabeu. The move comes as a surprise, with Lopetegui not featuring prominently among the host of managers linked with the role since the departure of Zinedine Zidane days after Madrid's 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final. The former goalkeeper made a sole league appearance for Madrid as a player and later turned out for rivals Barcelona.
Lopetegui previously coached Madrid's feeder club Castilla in 2008/09 before taking charge of Spain's youth teams.
He enjoyed success with the country's youth sides, winning the U19 European Championship in 2012 before repeating the feat as U21 boss 12 months later.
Lopetegui's forays into club management have been less successful, however. He was sacked from a brief spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano in Spain's second division in 2003 and left Portuguese club Porto after failing to win any silverware from 2014-16.
Last month, he signed a contract extension to remain as Spain coach until 2020 but the call of Madrid has proved too strong to resist.
Zidane's shock departure came after he had guided Madrid to a third straight Champions League title, but they finished a distant third as Barcelona took the honours in La Liga, and Lopetegui will be charged with closing what was a 17-point gap.
Among his first tasks will be resolving the future of Gareth Bale, with the Wales forward unhappy with his limited playing time under Zidane and in a powerful position after scoring twice off the bench in the Champions League final.
BREAKING: Julen Lopetegui is on the verge of getting sacked by Spain one day before the World Cup after being announced as Real Madrid manager. (Source: Daily Mirror)
freezefox
2018-06-13 16:22
羅力亞:BREAKING: Julen Lopetegui is on the verge of getting sacked by Spain one day before the World Cup after being announced as Real Madrid manager. (Source: Daily Mirror) [表情] (2018-06-13 15:55)
freezefox
2018-06-13 16:23
陣前易師!
KeL
2018-06-13 16:29
羅力亞:BREAKING: Julen Lopetegui is on the verge of getting sacked by Spain one day before the World Cup after being announced as Real Madrid manager. (Source: Daily Mirror) [表情] (2018-06-13 15:55)
As the future of Lopetegui depends on the conversation he is having right now with the President of the federation, Luis Rubiales, it is good to remember u21 manager Albert Celades is part of the coaching staff and Fernando Hierro, director of football of @rfef, could also help.
麻凡
2018-06-13 17:20
個timing點解會咁架, 買左西班牙冠軍果d要喊了~~~
英俊
2018-06-13 17:35
炒左
ODIN
2018-06-13 17:37
羅力亞:BREAKING: Julen Lopetegui is on the verge of getting sacked by Spain one day before the World Cup after being announced as Real Madrid manager. (Source: Daily Mirror) [表情] (2018-06-13 15:55)
痴線...玩埋D咁既野...
freezefox
2018-06-13 17:38
皇馬整古佢啦。要公布都唔駛呢一刻公布架。遲多少少公布駛死咩。
羅力亞
2018-06-13 17:44
Reports: Press conference had originally been for Julen Lopetegui and Spanish FA's Luis Rubiales. Now Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta also set to be present. Conference further delayed. More follows.
羅力亞
2018-06-13 17:45
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague
The story so far about Lopetegui and Real Madrid
RM made contact on Friday. Lopetegui left it to agent but took his decision on Monday
Florentino told President of @rfef few minutes before official announcement Tuesday
Lopetegui told players minutes before training last night
羅力亞
2018-06-13 17:46
Radio Marca: Following the invervention of players, led by Sergio Ramos, Julen Lopetegui will remain as #ESP Coach for the #WorldCup2018. More follows.
羅力亞
2018-06-13 17:48
Radio Marca report that Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta led a delegation of players who requested to the RFEF (Spanish FA) to reverse their decision to dismiss the Coach.
The head of the RFEF Luis Rubiales is said by multiple news outlets in the country to be ‘furious’ and ‘deeply upset’ of Tuesday’s announcement that the former goalkeeper would join Madrid after the World Cup.
Such news had taken the RFEF unaware and came just 21 days after the national team boss had put pen to paper on a new contract through to 2020.
Rubiales is said to believe the announcement will disrupt squad unity ahead of the tournament and that the confirmation should only have come after the conclusion of the competition.
A news conference jointly held by the two has been swiftly scheduled for Wednesday morning, with the suggestion that Lopetegui may leave his position, just two days before Spain kick-off their tournament against Portugal. However, the press conference has now been pushed back twice as talks continue behind the scenes.
Early suggestions are that Under-21 Coach Albert Celades and the RFEF’s Fernando Hierro - both former Madrid players - may step into the breach in such a situation.
羅力亞:Radio Marca report that Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta led a delegation of players who requested to the RFEF (Spanish FA) to reverse their decision to dismiss the Coach. The head of the RFEF Luis Rubiales is said by multiple news outlets in the country to be .. (2018-06-13 17:48)
Confirmed! Spain have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui two days before their #WorldCup opener against Portugal 🔴
怒射角球旗
2018-06-13 18:14
笑死
羅力亞
2018-06-13 18:17
'We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish him the greatest of luck': #Esp sack manager Julen Lopetegui one day before #WorldCup 2018 https://t.co/iTqSyeksU4
羅力亞
2018-06-13 18:20
May 22 - Signs two-year contract extension as Spain coach
羅力亞:May 22 - Signs two-year contract extension as Spain coach June 12 - Announced as Real Madrid manager June 13 - Sacked by Spain ....... (2018-06-13 18:20)
大陸新聞話皇馬球員一早知佢會去皇馬,焗官宣
怒射角球旗
2018-06-13 18:25
點解皇馬要官宣?唔明
羅力亞
2018-06-13 18:27
The Spanish federation has decided to sack Julen Lopetegui.
President of Federation, Luis Rubiales, preferred his sacking from the moment he heard Lopetegui was the new RM manager only minutes before the official confirmation yesterday. His position won the debate with players
According to Rubiales, “footballers will do everything they can to take the national side to the further it can go”. But did not want to get involved in their position in the internal debate (Real players, specially Sergio Ramos, defended Lopetegui to stay)
freezefox
2018-06-13 18:37
羅力亞:May 22 - Signs two-year contract extension as Spain coach June 12 - Announced as Real Madrid manager June 13 - Sacked by Spain ....... (2018-06-13 18:20)