Real Madrid confirm Spain manager Julen Lopetegui as new head coach to succeed Zinedine Zidane just 48 hours before start of World Cup
51-year-old will take over at the Bernabeu after leading Spain in their World Cup campaign in Russia
REAL MADRID have sprung a shock by naming Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach just 48 hours before the start of the World Cup.
The 51-year-old will leave his role as national team manager after the tournament in Russia has finished to take up his new position at the Bernabeu.
Lopetegui replaces Zinedine Zidane in the Spanish giants' hotseat after the Frenchman stepped down despite winning the Champions League last season.
He has agreed a three-year contract with the club.
Lopetegui, who previously managed Porto, Rayo Vallecano and the Real Madrid B team, has been the national team boss for the past two years.
He was only appointed after Spain's Euro 2016 campaign, with this summer's World Cup being his first, and last, major tournament as national team boss.
The move comes as a surprise, with Lopetegui not featuring prominently among the host of managers linked with the role since the departure of Zidane days after Madrid's 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Zidane left Los Blancos after leading them to three-straight Champions League triumphs.
Former goalkeeper Lopetegui, 51, made a sole league appearance for Madrid as a player, and later turned out for rivals Barcelona a handful of times.
He coached Madrid's feeder club Castilla in 2008/09 before taking charge of Spain's youth teams.
In May, he signed a two-year extension to remain as Spain coach until 2020 but the call of Madrid has proved stronger.