Just three weeks ago, the 51-year-old coach signed a contract extension until 2020 with the Spanish Football Federation. But in a flash, Real has announced that Lopetegui will officially take over the team after the 2018 World Cup.
Reopening the past, this is not the first time Lopetegui made the decision so contradictory. In the summer of 2016, after a short stay in Porto, the manager agreed to a deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, just a few days later, the Spanish strategist announced his father would lead the national team of Gaur after receiving an invitation from his hometown.
A man with great ambition, so the journey Lopetegui from the anonymous name, become the craving of all the top teams?
Getting started is difficult
A native of Basque Country, Lopetegui’s necktie was associated with the goalkeeper. Growing up through the academy level of the Real Sociedad, Lopetegui joined Real Madrid’s young Castilla at the age of 19. In his three years playing in the capital, Lopetegui also had the honor of debuting a White Vulture , after the team officially won the La Liga in the 1989-90 season.
Young master training
Lopetegui returned in 2008 when he received the coaching of Real Madrid Castilla. The coach has created a quality lineup with names like Antonio Adan, Dani Parejo, Pablo Mosquera, Miguel Palanca and Alberto Bueno. It was during this period that Lopetegui gifted 19-year-old Nacho Fernandez from the academy to the Castilla team, which helped Nacho form the A Real squad for the following season.
After one year in Castilla, Lopetegui returned to training the Spanish youth and really resonate in the period 2010-2014. Lopetegui won the European U19 Championship in 2012 and the European U21 in the following year. It is he who nursed stars like Jese, Delefeu, Isco, Thiago, Illaramendi, Alvaro Morata, David de Gea.
U21 Spain in 2013 is really impressive team. A flexible play based on the combination of counter-attack speed. The midway between Thiago, Koke and the Illaramendi is a solid launcher for Isco, who is highly regarded by Lopetegui, having the freedom to shine. Not many of those names are the core of the top clubs, and La Roja team to conquer the World Cup in Russia to
Confirmed name at the highest level
After the end of the contract with the Spanish Football Federation, Lopetegui moved to Portuguese rivals FC Porto. Although not winning any titles, but in the 2014-15 season, Lopetegui with Porto created a big shock when defeating the Bayern Munich 3-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals. Casemiro, who was loaned to Real for Porto, was a key factor in the trophy and promises to continue to be the backbone of Lopetegui’s re-emergence at Real next season.
