Fernando Hierro replaces Lopetegui as national team manager
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 @ 9:51 PM
MÁLAGA-BORN sports director for the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Fernando Hierro, will take over as national team coach today in place of outgoing Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked this lunchtime after Real Madrid leaked the news that he had been taken on as club manager.
He was due to give a press conference at 17.30 mainland Spain time at the Krasnodar Stadium, then hold the first training session with the national team ahead of their opening match on Friday against current European champions, Portugal.
Hierro was one of the names thought likely to take over from Lopetegui, who was fired after Real Madrid leaked his new appointment as manager taking over from outgoing 'Zizou' Zidane.
Another possibility was Albert Celades, current under-21 national team manager who had travelled with Lopetegui to Russia.
Hierro, 50 – a year younger than Lopetegui – is well known to the national squad both as sports director and former footballer.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com