Finally, the wait is over. Real Madrid C. F. has made a decision to appoint Spain national team coach Julen Lopetegui as manager and will take over after the World Cup celebration. Real Madrid announced the news on Tuesday, June 12 - two days prior to the World Cup kick up in Russia.
Since former manager Zinedine Zidane stepped away from Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid has been looking to fill up the vacancy.
VIDEO: Real Madrid appoint Julen Lopetegui as its new manager
Following the 1998 World Cup winner's departure from Real Madrid, a number of names were linked to the post, but Popetegui wasn't among the names.
So, how will Lopetegui lead the Spanish side?
Lopetegui has guided Spain through qualification to the World Cup finals and had agreed on a new contract up until 2020 with the national side. But with three days before Spain's World Cup opener against Portugal in Sochi, Real Madrid announced that Lopetegui will leave his contract with the national side, agreeing on a three-year contract with the La Liga giants.
Julen Lopetegui will be the Real Madrid coach after the celebration of the 2018 World Cup,
the club's statement said.
Comunicado oficial: Julen Lopetegui será el entrenador del #RealMadrid tras la celebración del Mundial de Rusia 2018.https://t.co/4bTZwbBTMv pic.twitter.com/DZz5i3ijUn
— #CHAMP13NS (@realmadrid) June 12, 2018
The Spanish federation has confirmed that Madrid will pay compensation to release Lopetegui from the remaining two years of his contract. The statement says,
The RFEF will receive the payment of the release clause so that the current national coach can sign for Real Madrid,
The RFEF asks for the maximum respect to maintaining normality in the national team camp ahead of our debut in the tournament against Portugal.
Real Madrid C. F. announces that Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of the first team during the next three seasons.
¡Bienvenido, @julenlopetegui!#WelcomeLopetegui | #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/i2efGU0JI3
— #CHAMP13NS (@realmadrid) June 12, 2018
Lopetegui has never lost a match with the national side since taking over the side in July 2016 in the wake of the European Championship. He has recorded 14 wins with 6 draws, the second-longest unbeaten start by a coach in Spain's history. And Lopetegui might be worth taking for the La Liga giants.
And after the World Cup, Spain will have to find a new boss ahead of the new UEFA Nations League.
