2018 FIFA WC: Spain shockingly sack their coach ahead of the competition

Julen Lopetegui is sacked by the Spanish federation ahead of the World Cup. Image Source: twitter

XtraTime Web Desk: The Spanish football federation has sacked the team’s head coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup confirmed Spanish FA chief after the news came in public that Lopetegui will join Spanish giant Real Madrid.




The federation called a press conference immediately after the incident as the head of Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales was in shock with the timing of the announcement. Fernando Hierro has replaced him as the head coach of Spain for the World Cup.




Following a bizarre morning, during which the Spanish players pleaded with Rubiales for Lopetegui to keep his job, it was decided that the manager’s position had become untenable.




‘We have been forced to dispense with the national coach, we wish him the best of luck,’ said Rubiales.

‘The Spanish national team is the team of all the Spaniards. We only found out just five minutes before that he was leaving for Madrid.’




The press conference was due to start at 9.30am (BST) on Wednesday morning but was delayed by well over an hour as the Spanish FA’s top brass thrashed out a solution among themselves and the players.




Members of the Spain squad, led by Los Blancos skipper Sergio Ramos, eventually failed in their bid to keep the coach in his role and it was announced shortly after that Lopetegui will indeed leave his current position with immediate effect.




One of Rubiales’ first tasks in his role was to extend Lopetegui’s contract, and when the Spain boss has reneged by signing a deal with Madrid, the Spanish FA chief was concerned he has been played a fool.