Julen Lopetegui appointed new Spain coach

MADRID: Julen Lopetegui has been appointed new Spain coach in succession of Vicente del Bosque, the nation’s football federation said on Thursday.

Lopetegui, 49, was in-charge of Spanish youth national teams between 2010 and 2014 and Porto coach from 2014 until January 2016. He was to be officially presented later on Thursday.

Del Bosque ended his eight-year tenure after the Euro 2016 last 16 exit against Italy in June, after leading Spain to the 2010 World Cup title and the Euro 2012 trophy.

Lopetegui has been chosen ahead of former Sevilla coach Joaquin Caparros, former Rayo Vallecano boss Paco Jemez and former Marseille coach Michel.

However, an online poll taken by sports daily Marca showed only 30 per cent of readers in favour of Lopetegui, with Caparros and Jemez with more popular support.

Radio Marca said: “This has come as a bit of a surprise. It seemed that Caparros was going to be the man chosen, and we had all got used to that idea.”

Meanwhile, Cadena SER said: “Lopetegui is surely a good coach. However, he does not have as much experience in the Spanish league as other candidates have... He seems to be a bit of a gamble, to be honest.”

Lopetegui will have a difficult time trying to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals, given that Spain have been drawn into qualifying Group G along with Italy, who eliminated them from Euro 2016 at the round of 16 stage.

Lopetegui was an efficient rather than spectacular goalkeeper who started his career at Real Madrid before moving onto Las Palmas, Logrones, Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano.

He never managed to make himself first-choice keeper at Real orBarca, but did earn one cap for Spain and was a reserve at the 1994 World Cup.