Madrid: Real Madrid on Tuesday announced that current Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui will take charge of the record European club football champions for the next three seasons.
Lopetegui will join the club after Spain’s participation in the World Cup, after two years leading the national team, according to Real Madrid’s website.
Zinedine Zidane left Real Madrid as head coach after winning three consecutive Uefa Champions League titles.
“Lopetegui will join the club once his involvement with the Spanish national squad in the World Cup finals is over, having spent two years in charge of the national side,” Real Madrid said, adding that he would sign for the next three seasons initially.
Rumours as to who might take over at Los Blancos had filled the sporting press in the wake of Zidane’s sudden departure at the end of May.
The Frenchman took his leave after winning three consecutive Champions League trophies, saying it was the right time to go.
Lopetegui had on May 22 renewed his contract as Spain coach until 2020.
The news that Zidane’s spot on the bench of the Santiago Bernabeu had been filled came just three days before Lopetegui leads Spain’s international line-up into their opening Group match against Portugal in Sochi, where the soon-to-be Madrid boss will come face-to-face with one of his potential future star players, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Spain will later have to overcome Iran and Morocco to advance beyond the group stages.
The side, who feature the likes of Diego Costa, Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique, are one of the hot favourites to walk away with the trophy at the end of the campaign in Russia.
After spending nine years with the Real, Ronaldo is reportedly looking for lucrative contracts elsewhere.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the Portugal football team captain is angry with the club’s offer to extend his contract, which he views as a veiled hint for him to quit.
Madrid’s management has offered the forward a contract whereby he could earn 25 million euros (Dh108 million) a year, while Ronaldo has insisted on a yearly salary of 30 million euros.
Marca reported that Ronaldo feels he has more value than Neymar and Lionel Messi and the club should meet his demands.
His salary for 2018 amounts to 21 million euros but Paris St-Germain are reportedly ready to pay him 45 million euros.
— Agencies
