Real Madrid appoint new coach, Julen Lopetegui

Real Madrid have appointed the current Spanish national team coach, Julen Lopetegui, as their next coach.The Spain boss will take over at Santiago Bernabeu after the 2018 World Cup.

He succeeds the Zinedine Zidane who retired after winning an unprecedented three successive Champions League for the club.

A statement from the club says: “Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of Real Madrid after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“Real Madrid CF announces that Julen Lopetegui will coach the first team for the next three seasons.

“Julen Lopetegui will join the club after the participation of the Spanish team in the World Cup, after two years leading the national team.”

Lopetegui has endured a mixed managerial career thus far, but has history with Los Blancos, having managed the club’s B team between 2008 and 2009.

A trusted youth coach, he has also managed Spain at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 level, though he failed to win any silverware at FC Porto and was sacked.

It remains to be seen if he will head to Real as a World Cup winner, though Spain’s squad is stocked with exciting talent.