BREAKING: Spain Sack Coach Lopetegui One Day To World Cup

Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as Spain manager barely 48 hours before La Roja World Cup opener against Portugal.

The decision may not be unconnected to Lopetegui’s appointment as manager of Real Madrid, which was expected to commence at the end of the Municipal.

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51-year-old Lopetegui signed a three-year deal on Tuesday to succeed Zinedine Zidane with the Champions League holders and it was decided that in the circumstances it was inappropriate for him to continue with Spain.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said circumstances surrounding his appointment at the Santiago Bernabéu was inappropriate and that it had dismissed the 51-year-old because the negotiation occurred “without any information to the RFEF”.

“The negotiations have occurred without any information to the Spanish FA and we were informed just five minutes before the press release. There’s a way to act that needs to be fulfilled,” Spanish Football Association president, Luis Rubiales said in a statement.

“The Spain team is the team of all Spaniards. You can’t do things this way, two or three days before the World Cup. We have been obliged to make this decision.

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“We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish him the greatest of luck,” Rubiales added.

The 51-year-old became Spain national team head coach in 2016 following Vicente del Bosque’s retirement, and remained unbeaten through his reign.

Spain won 14 of 20 games with Lopetegui in charge, drawing the remaining six.

Spain will play their first Group B match against Portugal on Friday, and will go on next to face Iran on June 20 and finally Morocco on June 25.

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