Spain have just sacked their manager

[tommers]

Lopetegui has been sacked the day before the finals start.

Mentalists.

 

[Pickman's model]

it's part of their mind games

 

[Sue]

I don't know a great deal about football but that seems like a...brave move...

 

[JuanTwoThree]

It seems that he was negotiating with Real Madrid behind their backs and they felt they had no choice.

 

[The39thStep]

Didnt Conte announce he was off to Chelsea before the Euros?

 

[Lord Camomile]

It seems that he was negotiating with Real Madrid behind their backs and they felt they had no choice.

According to the BBC, the Spanish FA found out 5 minutes before the rest of the world. That'd certainly piss me off.

What the hell was Lopetegui doing? Whether or not he had any say in Madrid announcing his appointment, this could surely have played out a lot better for everyone.

 

[Teaboy]

All pretty insane really. Handled very badly by the man and Madrid by the sounds of it. Presumably he was out of contract after the WC (or in any case there is no way Spain would have stopped him) so why not just keep everyone in the loop and announce it at an agreed time.

Shoddy and disrespectful from Madrid, not that its particularly surprising in itself.

 

[belboid]

All pretty insane really. Handled very badly by the man and Madrid by the sounds of it. Presumably he was out of contract after the WC

He'd just extended his contract, in fact

 

[Lord Camomile]

He'd just extended his contract, in fact

According to reports in Spain, Rubiales was incensed when he discovered Lopetegui had agreed a deal with Madrid.

No fucking shit!

Apparently Rubiales, the federation chief, has only been in post for a month!

In a wider context, this shocking development is part of a wider political power play within Spanish football, with newly-appointed Rubiales seizing the first opportunity to show that the federation will not allow itself to be pushed around by anyone - not even Real Madrid.

Unconfirmed reports are now stating that under-21 coach Albert Celades and the federation's director of football Fernando Hierro - a former Real Madrid defender - will take charge for the World Cup opener against Portugal. But with this crazy story, we should expect another twist or two.

 

[dessiato]

It seems that he was negotiating with Real Madrid behind their backs and they felt they had no choice.

He, apparently, accepted the Real job, then, five minutes before going public, told the Spanish FA. He'd not spoken to, or informed, them prior to accepting the job.

 

[The Octagon]

Rubiales has set himself up in his campaigning to go against the corruption and Barca / Madrid influence on the Spanish FA.

No way he could let this pisstake from Madrid stand.

Cheeky fiver on Zidane taking over Spain and winning the WC and Champions League in the same season

 

[Teaboy]

Cheeky fiver on Zidane taking over Spain and winning the WC and Champions League in the same season

They've already announced ex-Bolton player Hierro has taken charge. I think he's had a less than stellar managerial record to date.

 

[pocketscience]

Rubiales has set himself up in his campaigning to go against the corruption and Barca / Madrid influence on the Spanish FA.

No way he could let this pisstake from Madrid stand.

Cheeky fiver on Zidane taking over Spain and winning the WC and Champions League in the same season

Don't do it! Hierro already announced as replacement.

Eta, beaten to it

 

[Wilf]

Lopetegui has been sacked the day before the finals start.

.

Maybe Ramos broke his arm?

 

[Fez909]

They've already announced ex-Bolton player Hierro has taken charge. I think he's had a less than stellar managerial record to date.

Lopetegui's record in [club] management ain't too great, either.

Porto:

Porto started the 2014–15 season with their biggest budget ever, hiring Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui. Despite the signing of many new players, they failed to win any silverware, contributing to the biggest hiatus during Pinto da Costa's presidency, that goes back to 2013. They also equalized, in terms of goals conceded, their biggest defeat in European competitions (6–1 against AEK Athens) and suffered their biggest defeat in the UEFA Champions League (6–1 against Bayern Munich, after the 5–0 loss against Arsenal in 2010). Porto continued their losing trend in the 2015–16 season, making it the second consecutive trophyless season, with the contribution of José Peseiro, who had replaced Julen Lopetegui in January 2016.

Before that he managed Rayo and Real Madrid B in the Segunda Division.

I give him til Christmas.

 

[belboid]

They've already announced ex-Bolton player Hierro has taken charge. I think he's had a less than stellar managerial record to date.

'They' being a former Hamilton Academicals defender

 

[BCBlues]

He should have been sacked anyway for leaving Alonso, Fabregas and Morata out of the squad

 

[JimW]

One down, thirty to go. It's coming home!

 

[Steel Icarus]

Spain now nailed on to win the thing.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Real Madrid are a right shower.

 

[Teaboy]

Real Madrid are a right shower.

Couldn't give a fuck could they?

Them getting the announcement out was far more important than the World Cup and Spain's chances. Imagine if it had been Barcelona that had behaved like this? Utterly shameless.

 

[Wilf]

One down, thirty to go. It's coming home!

Southgate should have a catchphrase, maybe Strong and Stable?

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Couldn't give a fuck could they?

Them getting the announcement out was far more important than the World Cup and Spain's chances. Imagine if it had been Barcelona that had behaved like this? Utterly shameless.

Yep, it's not that they've nabbed him as coach, just the manner of going about it. No respect at all, not that anyone is surprised.

 

[pocketscience]

Madness. The whole thing doesn't make sense.
For some reason my first thought was that C.Ronaldo had used his power in Madrid to instigated the whole thing, so Portugal get a head start in their group game vs Spain on friday evening

 

[Lord Camomile]

Madness. The whole thing doesn't make sense.
For some reason my first thought was that C.Ronaldo had used his power in Madrid to instigated the whole thing, so Portugal get a head start in their group game vs Spain on friday evening

The fix is in

 

[Riklet]

What a dick! They were right to fire him.

Going to be interesting seeing what happens against Portugal.