After Sacking Lopetegui, Spain Appoint Hierro As New Coach

Spanish Football Federation has sacked coach Julen Lopetegui just one day before the start of 2018 FIFA World Cup

File pictures of Fernando Hierro (left) and Julen Lopetegui.

(Photo: The Quint)

Just one day before the 2018 FIFA World Cup gets underway in Russia, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has sacked their head coach Julen Lopetegui, saying ‘we feel obliged to dispense with his services’.

The soccer federation appointed former Spanish footballer Fernando Hierro as the new national team coach

Former Real Madrid and Bolton star Hierro will be in the dugout on Friday when Spain open their Group B campaign against Portugal.

The 50-year-old is Spain's sporting director and his only managerial experience is a year in charge of Real Oviedo.

The sacking comes after Real Madrid unexpectedly announced on Tuesday that Lopetegui, who had only recently extended his contract with Spain, would take over as their coach next season.

Lopetegui's replacement would be announced “soon”, said Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish football federation.

We want to thank Julen for all he’s done and he’s a big reason behind us being in Russia, but we feel obliged to dispense with his services. There has to be a message to all RFEF employees and there are ways of behaving that you need to abide by

Luis Rubiales, President, Spanish football federation.

Rubiales, who took over as president last month, said the federation's values were broken and it was the only decision he could make.

The federation cannot be left out of a negotiation by one of its workers and be informed five minutes before the press release. We have been compelled to act.

Luis Rubiales, President, Spanish football federation.

“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,” he said. “It may look like a weakness now, but with time this will make us stronger.”

Rubiales added there were no hard feelings towards Lopetegui, who replaced Vicente del Bosque following Euro 2016.

On Tuesday, Real Madrid announced Julen Lopetegui as the replacement for Zinedine Zidane, who resigned after winning his third Champions League title with the club.

Spain play their opening match against Euro 2016 winner Portugal on Friday.