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Julen Lopetegui is a Spanish former footballer and current coach who is best known for his successful tenure as the manager of the Spain national team and various top clubs, including Real Madrid
Born on August 28, 1966, in Asteasu, Spain, Lopetegui began his professional playing career as a goalkeeper for various Spanish clubs before retiring in 2002
He then transitioned into coaching, starting with the Spanish youth national teams
Lopetegui's coaching abilities were soon recognized, and in 2014, he was appointed as the head coach of the Spain national team
His time with the national team was highly successful, with Spain dominating in the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup under his guidance
However, just a day before the start of the tournament, Lopetegui was controversially dismissed after it was announced that he had agreed to become the new coach of Real Madrid after the World Cup
His tenure at Real Madrid, however, was less successful
Despite a strong start, Lopetegui was fired within months due to the team's poor performance in La Liga
Following his dismissal from Real Madrid, he went on to coach various other clubs, including FC Porto and Sevilla, with mixed success
Throughout his career, Lopetegui has been praised for his tactical knowledge, meticulous planning, and ability to develop young players
He has also faced criticism for his lack of success in major tournaments and his controversial dismissal from the Spain national team
Nevertheless, he remains a highly respected figure in Spanish football, known for his passion and dedication to the sport.
Lopetegui's coaching abilities were soon recognized, and in 2014, he was appointed as the head coach of the Spain national team. His time with the national team was highly successful, with Spain dominating in the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup under his guidance. However, just a day before the start of the tournament, Lopetegui was controversially dismissed after it was announced that he had agreed to become the new coach of Real Madrid after the World Cup. His tenure at Real Madrid, however, was less successful. Despite a strong start, Lopetegui was fired within months due to the team's poor performance in La Liga. Following his dismissal from Real Madrid, he went on to coach various other clubs, including FC Porto and Sevilla, with mixed success. Throughout his career, Lopetegui has been praised for his tactical knowledge, meticulous planning, and ability to develop young players. He has also faced criticism for his lack of success in major tournaments and his controversial dismissal from the Spain national team. Nevertheless, he remains a highly respected figure in Spanish football, known for his passion and dedication to the sport.