Julen Lopetegui has been appointed as the new Real Madrid manager – this comes just weeks after committing his future to Spain’s national team.
Julen Lopetegui signed a deal until 2020 on May 22 but Real Madrid have swooped for his services and he has agreed to join the Spanish giants after the World Cup.
The 51-year-old represented Barcelona as a player for three years but will now take charge of their bitter rivals.
Real Madrid said in an official announcement: ‘Julen Lopetegui will be the Real Madrid coach after the celebration of the 2018 World Cup.
‘Real Madrid announce that Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of the first team during the next three seasons.
‘Julen Lopetegui will join the club after Spain’s participation in the World Cup, after two years leading the national team.’
Lopetegui has never lost a match as Spain coach since taking the reins in July 2016 in the wake of the European Championship, earning 14 wins with six draws for the second-longest unbeaten start by a coach in Spain’s history.
At the World Cup, Spain will face Iran and Morocco in Group B after the challenge of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their opener.
After the tournament, Spain will have to find a new boss ahead of the new UEFA Nations League, in which they will open against England and Croatia in September.
-OlisaTV
