Julen Lopetegui is a former Spanish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. At the end of his playing career, he became a football coach. Currently heads the coaching staff of Real Madrid
Julen Lopetegui: biography
Yulen Lopetegui Argote was born on August 28, 1966, in the village of Asteasu, Spain. The future footballer and entrenador was born into the family of weightlifting champion Jose Antonio Lopetegui. Since childhood, Julen, with his sisters and brother, helped their parents in the family restaurant and could play football only in their free time.
The family business was continued by Julen's brother - he runs two establishments in Madrid. When there were periods without football in Lopetegui's life, the goalkeeper was involved in managing them.
Career
He started his career at Real Sociedad, and in 1985 joined Castilla. As part of the team, the goalkeeper regularly entered the field being an important figure.
In 1988, Julen was transferred to the main team of Castilla - Real Madrid, but immediately transferred on loan to Las Palmas, where he played thirty-one matches of the season. Returning from loan, Lopetegui served as a reserve goalkeeper for Real Madrid for three years, remaining in the shadow of Francisco Buyo, and played only one match.
In 1991, Yulen moved to Logrones, having had a brilliant three seasons. A bright game gave him an invitation to the Spanish national team, though having played only one match. Having played against the Croatian national team, which ended in the defeat of the Spaniards. Nevertheless, the goalkeeper was included in the application of the Spanish national team for the 1994 World Cup.
After that, Lopetegui joined the ranks of Barcelona, but lost the competition to Carles Busquets and Vitor Baye, who came in 1996. As a result, having become the third goalkeeper of the team and having played only five meetings in three years, he left Barcelona and moved to Rayo Vallecano.
He began his coaching career during the 2003-04 season as head coach of Rayo Vallecano, but was dismissed due to unsatisfactory results. After that, he worked as a commentator on Spanish sports channels until 2008. In the 2008-09 season, Yulen led Castilla without much success.
In 2010, Yulen was appointed head coach of the Spain U19 national team and the U20 national team. He did not achieve much success with players under 20, but with the Spanish national team under 19, Yulen won the 2011 and 2012 European Championships. In 2012, Lopetegui was appointed head coach of the Spain U21 national team.
In June 2014, Lopetegui returned to club coaching, headed the Portuguese Porto, but failed to achieve success and was dismissed in January 2016. After Euro 2016, Lopetegui headed the Spanish national team, replacing Vicente Del Bosque. Under the guidance of the coach, the Spaniards took first place in the qualifying group for the World Cup in Russia ahead of schedule, ahead of the Italian national team.
On June 4, 2018, the coaching staff of the Spanish national team, led by Yulen Lopetegui, announced the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
In real life"
Two days before the start of the World Cup, on June 12, 2018, it was announced that after the World Cup, Lopetegui would leave the national team and head the coaching staff of Real Madrid. Nevertheless, Julen decided to secretly sign a contract with the “creamy” right at the start of the World Cup in Russia. This episode became the object of public censure and discussion.
Considering that the coach had only renewed his contract with the Spanish national team three weeks earlier, this news angered the leadership of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the next day, June 13, on the eve of the start of the world championship, Lopetega's dismissal from the national team was announced. Fernando Hierro, who at the time served as the sports director of the national team, was entrusted with managing her actions in the championship. The very next day after the scandalous dismissal from the national team, June 14, 2018, Lopetegui was officially presented as the new head of the coaching staff of Real Madrid.
The President of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, who had replaced Angel Maria Villar from this post just a month before the incident, found the backstage negotiations between Lopetegui and the “creamy” unacceptable, which did not take his point of view into account. Rubiales was not affected by the resistance of Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos, nor by the previous merits of the national team coach - 20 unbeaten matches.
In June 2018, the new Real Madrid coach added the youngest goalkeeper Andrey Lunin in the history of the Ukrainian national team. The contract with the goalkeeper is for 6 years, the transfer amount was € 9 million.
At the same time, midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who is not satisfied with the amount of playing time, announced his desire to leave the “royal club”. Another item in Lopetegui's plans is the acquisition of Mexican Hector Herrera. Julen spotted the midfielder even during the management of Portuguese Porto and, according to rumors, has already shared his intentions with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Personal life
Julen Lopetegui maintains strict privacy regarding his personal life. Photos on pages in social networks - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - highlight the theme of football, charity, all kinds of working moments.
The veil of secrecy was opened at the ceremony of introducing Lopetegiv as the new coach of Real Madrid. It turned out that the mentor's wife was named Rosa Makeda, and the children were named John, Daniel and Maria.
Awards
Like a footballer
- 1990 - champion of Spain
- 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996 - Spanish Super Cup winner
- 1997 - Winner of the Spanish Cup
As a coach
- 2011, 2012 - Winner of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship
- 2013 - Winner of the European Youth Championship
