With only two days to go before Spain's opening match at the World Cup, Julen Lopetegui has been fired as national team coach because he accepted a job to lead Real Madrid next season.
In a surprise announcement Tuesday, Real Madrid appointed Lopetegui as Zinedine Zidane's successor to take over after the tournament in Russia, sparking outrage at the federation and among Spanish fans at the timing of the announcement.
Royal Spanish Football Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol, RFEF) President Luis Rubiales, who made the announcement about Lopetegui's departure at a much-delayed press conference on Wednesday in Krasnodar, later said Fernando Hierro would replace Lopetegui as coach for Spain's match against Portugal in Sochi on Friday.
The 50-year-old Hierro, a former national team player and Real Madrid captain, had been acting as the federation's sports director and was already in Russia with the national team.
Rubiales said firing Lopetegui wasn't the best solution but it was needed after the federation was caught by surprise by Real Madrid's announcement.
"The federation cannot be left out of a negotiation by one of its workers and be informed five minutes before the press release," Rubiales said. "We have been compelled to act."
Rubiales, who took over as president last month, said Lopetegui betrayed the federation's values and it was the only decision he could make.
"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," Rubiales said. "It may look like a weakness now, but with time this will make us stronger."
"Negotiating is legitimate but it took place without the RFEF being informed until five minutes before a press statement was released. There has to be a message for all workers in the federation that there is a right way to do things."
Lopetegui did not attend the press conference but was expected to talk to the media later.
"We have to work on a series of decisions that come just two days before the opener," Rubiales said. "There's a lot to do."
The replacement
Hierro spent most of his career as a defender for Real Madrid and finished his playing days with English club Bolton in 2005. He played in four World Cups with Spain, from 1990 to 2002, and in two European Championships, 1996 and 2000.
Hierro was Carlo Ancelotti's assistant at Real Madrid after Zidane left the post in 2014.
He coached second-division club Real Oviedo two seasons ago and was Malaga's general manager after leaving his sports director position with the Spanish federation in 2011.
After Madrid's announcement that it hired Lopetegui, critics immediately began questioning some of the coach's decisions with the national team, including his choice to leave some Barcelona players such as Sergi Roberto out of the World Cup squad. There were also questions about how Lopetegui would be able to fully focus on the national team while also having to discuss pre-season signings for his new club.
There are six Madrid players in Spain's team for the World Cup.
Lopetegui's name had not been mentioned by Spanish media among the probable candidates for the Madrid job, which opened up after Zidane unexpectedly quit. Last month, Lopetegui agreed to extend his contract with the national team through 2020.
"I admire and respect Lopetegui a lot. He is a top coach, and that made it harder to make this decision," Rubiales said. "Winning is important, but above that, we need to know how things have to be handled."
According to reports in the Spanish media, the players tried to intervene at the last minute to prevent Rubiales sacking Lopetegui.
"I have spoken with the players and what I can guarantee is that the players will do everything in their power, along with the new technical team to take the team as far as possible," said Rubiales.
Spain and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos appealed for unity between the fans and players.
"We are the national team. We represent a badge, colours, a fanbase, a country. The responsibility and commitment are with and for you. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, together," tweeted Ramos.
La Roja were among the favourites to lift the trophy this summer but the astonishing developments of the past two days could have a devastating affect on their chances.
Undefeated
The 51-year-old Lopetegui took over from Vicente del Bosque after the 2016 European Championship. He was credited with reviving a team that was on the decline after winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
By successfully blending talented youngsters and veterans from its golden generation, Lopetegui kept Spain unbeaten through 20 matches in charge, comfortably leading the team to the World Cup from a qualifying group that included Italy.
He won European championships with Spain's under-19 and under-21 teams in the early 2010s, but had a lacklustre stint with Portuguese team Porto in his only job with a major club. He was fired after failing to win a title during almost two years in Portugal.
Rubiales took over a federation which was in the hands of embattled official Ángel María Villar for nearly three decades. He was elected president over Juan Luis Larrea, the federation's former treasurer and its interim leader since Villar was suspended following his arrest last year on suspicion of corruption.
In one of his first actions, Rubiales cancelled a previously arranged "vacation" trip by officials to the World Cup that would cost nearly 2 million euros (US$2.3 million). He got the money reimbursed and spent only about 500,000 euros (US$590,000) with new travel arrangements for sponsors and federation officials.
"We are all affected," Rubiales said about Lopetegui's departure. "We have to think about what is best for the entity, for the federation and the team, and from this afternoon we will all be together to go forward."
- AFP/AP
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