Spain on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, fired the men’s national soccer team manager Julen Lopetegui, just two days before the team’s opening World Cup match because he accepted a job to coach Real Madrid next season.
Assistant Fernando Hierro will replace Lopetegui as the squad gets ready to take on Portugal in its first Group B match of the tournament, Spanish soccer federal president Luis Rubiales announced.
Hierro was acting as the federation’s sports director and was already in Russia with the team before the announcement was made.
Rubiales said tthat he firing was needed because the federation was caught by surprise over Lopetegui’s decision to take over as Real Madrid’s coach.
“The federation cannot be left out of a negotiation by one of its workers and be informed five minutes before the press release,” Rubiales said. “We have been compelled to act.”
Rubiales accused Lopetegui of betraying the federation’s values.
“It’s a difficult situation, but we are not the ones who determined the action that had to be taken. The federation has its values and it has to maintain them,” Rubiales said.
“It may look like a weakness now, but with time this will make us stronger.”
Hierro was formerly a defender for Real Madrid and finished playing soccer with the English club Bolton in 2005. He played in four World Cups with Spain from 1990 to 2002.
Lopetegui’s decision to take the Real Madrid job with the World Cup just days away drew the ire of critics who quickly questioned his decision making when he announced the Spanish squad.
Lopetegui chose six Real Madrid players to be on the squad over the likes of Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto and Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas.
.Fox News
