Spain national team appoints Real legend to replace Lopetegui

Just one day after Julen Lopetegui was appointed as Real Madrid coach, the Spanish Football Federation decided to fire him and temporarily put Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro in charge.

Previously, when asked who would take over the national team, Mr. Rubiales said: "We are looking for a replacement as quickly as possible, when we have an answer we will inform everyone."

Mr. Rubiales was not satisfied with Real's actions in working with Lopetegui while "overlooking" the Spanish Football Federation: "If someone wants to talk to those who work for the Federation, they must also talk to us. That is fundamental because this team belongs to all the Spanish people. The national team is the most important thing we have, and the 2018 World Cup is the most important arena."

According toMarcaandAS, Fernando Hierro was appointed coach of the Spanish national team for the 2018 World Cup, meaning Celades will take on an assistant role. Hierro was assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid in the 2014/15 season and served as sporting director at Malaga in the 2011/12 season.

Fernando Hierro is considered a person with in-depth knowledge of the work of the Spanish Football Federation. He was the sporting director of the Federation from 2007 to 2011 and was reappointed in November last year. The only time Hierro took on the role of coach was at Real Oviedo in the Segunda Division in the 2016/17 season.

Previously, President Luis Rubiales made the decision to fire Julen Lopetegui immediately after hearing that he would become the new coach of Real Madrid, replacing Zinedine Zidane. Coach Julen Lopetegui was absent from the press conference on the afternoon of June 13.

The president of the Spanish Football Federation said he only received a call five minutes before Real Madrid announced the appointment of Julen Lopetegui. "There were negotiations between the two parties, but we knew nothing about it," Mr. Luis Rubiales affirmed.

At the official press conference to fire Lopetegui, Mr. Rubiales expressed disappointment with the way coach Julen Lopetegui and Real Madrid worked.

“We were forced to let Lopetegui go. There were negotiations between Lopetegui and Real Madrid but no information was shared with the federation. We only knew about the new coach of Real Madrid 5 minutes before they issued a press release. We need to be treated with respect. I wish him good luck,” said Mr. Rubiales.