Spain have sacked their manager Julen Lopetegui one day before the World Cup.
The 51-year-old manager was announced as the next Real Madrid manager last night and the Spanish FA claims that Los Blancos negotiated with Lopetegui without their consent.
President Luis Rubiales is thought to be “furious” and “deeply upset” with the situation.
Apparently, the Spanish FA came to know about Lopetegui’s Real Madrid move just five minutes before the official confirmation.
It will be interesting to see who takes over as the Spaniard’s replacement now.
Spain takes on Portugal in their World Cup opener on Friday night and the Portuguese will be determined to take advantage of the chaos surrounding the Spanish camp.
Spain were considered as one of the favourites to win the competition this summer but the exit of Lopetegui at the last minute could have a devastating effect on the players’ morale.
Here is how the fans reacted to the news of Lopetegui’s sacking.
Madrid and Lopetegui will be the ones to blame if Spain fail in the World Cup. Even if one player scores a hat-trick on his own goal. The narrative has been set.
— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) June 13, 2018
What a showman Rubiales is. Made it all about himself.
— kismo (@kxsmo) June 13, 2018
Wow. Holy effing shit.
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) June 13, 2018
Managerless Spain v Portugal with their five Sporting players trying to cancel their contracts is going to be superb on Friday.
— Tim Brown (@sockformation) June 13, 2018
oh god it’s even better, Lopetegui’s agent and key part in his Real Madrid move is Jorge Mendes, and Spain just happen to play Portugal on Friday. I LOVE THIS GAME
— О•ЛИ•ВЭР (@sewadyllo) June 13, 2018
Misses out on his dream of leading Spain at a World Cup and will probably be sacked at Madrid if he doesn’t win the Champions League. Congrats Julen Lopetegui
— James Stretford (@Jamesstretford) June 13, 2018
Oh wow. Spain’s coach Julen Lopetegui just got sacked just one day before the World Cup because he got hired as Real Madrid manager.
Harsh or deserved?
— Iseunife The First (@Shawnife_) June 13, 2018
Hard to argue against Spain sacking Lopetegui.
I’d likely have grudgingly left him on but, in the end, the big “crime” is *secretly* negotiating with Madrid only three weeks after signing a new deal with Spain and then announcing the secret deal just before the World Cup. Weird
— Yomi Kazeem (@TheYomiKazeem) June 13, 2018
I understand the decision to sack Lopetegui. First off, he & Madrid negotiated a contract between the Federation’s back, and then made it public against RFEF’s wishes. Secondly, for a NT coach to also have a contract with a club (which has a lot of players in the WC) looks awful.
— Jen Evelyn (@JenFCB) June 13, 2018
Wow! Lopetegui has properly screwed this up hasn’t he?! Destroys all his good work and an unbeaten record as Spain boss to take on an impossible job with Real Madrid in the post-Zidane era on the eve of a World Cup he could definitely win. Madness.
— Oliver Young-Myles (@OMyles90) June 13, 2018
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