Julen Lopetegui’s controversial sacking from the Spain head coach’s post was still on the 51-year-old’s mind as he was unveiled at Real Madrid.
“Yesterday was the saddest day of my life since the death of my mother,” Lopetegui said on Thursday, fighting back tears.
“But today is the happiest day of my life. ”
Given that Madrid announced Lopetegui as their new manager just two days before the World Cup, and Spanish football federation president (RFEF) Luis Rubiales was reportedly informed only five minutes before their was an official announcement, there has been plenty of recrimination from Rubiales, the RFEF, and Spanish fans.
However, Lopetegui and Madrid both hit back on Thursday during the manager’s unveiling.
“We are convinced that we acted in an absolutely honest and clear way,” Lopetegui said, while Madrid president Florentino Perez added the reaction was “disproportionate, unfair and without precedent in the world of football in similar cases.”
He also accused Rubiales of having “an absurd reaction of misplaced pride”, in deciding to sack Lopetegui from the Spain post.
There were concerns that, having been announced as Madrid manager, Lopetegui may have a conflict of interest when managing the Barcelona players in the Spain squad, given the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
However, Spain’s players were against Lopetegui’s firing.
Real Madrid legend Fernando Heirro was named as the successor to Lopetegui, who has now signed on to be Madrid manager for the next three seasons.
