Report: Julen Lopetegui agrees deal with West Ham
Former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui has reportedly agreed terms to become the new manager of West Ham United.
Since hanging up his gloves, Lopetegui has had somewhat of an unsettled managerial career, hopping between clubs and country. He has managed from the youth levels of the Spanish national team all the way to the European Giants of Real Madrid.
He started his managerial career with Rayo Vallecano although, he was sacked just 10 games into the season after a poor string of results. He then took a head coach hiatus for the next five years and became a TV commentator.
After his venture into journalism, he managed the majority of Spain's youth teams, until 2014 when he joined Porto, taking them to quarter finals of the Champions League.
He was handed the reins of the Spanish national team in July 2016, but despite qualifying for the 2018 World Cup he was sacked on the eve of the tournament after being named as the new Real Madrid boss.
Lopetegui was sacked by Sevilla in October 2022 and moved to Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in November.
Lopetegui decided to leave management and went into commentary for the next five years.
The Dragons finished runners-up in his first season in charge in 2014/15 and missed out on any domestic cups, which for a club the size of Porto is rare.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation were not best pleased with the news so close to the start of the World Cup and promptly sacked Lopetegui, replacing him with caretaker manager Fernando Hierro who took them as far as the round of 16.
Lopetegui, "Mis resultados en el Sevilla son extraordinarios si te fijas en el 98 por ciento del tiempo, y no en el último dos por ciento. Conseguimos una Europa League y, para mi, los tres cuartos puestos en Liga que nunca se habían conseguido en la historia del Sevilla". pic.twitter.com/C6hPwKzlEJ
— Eterno Capitán, Reyes 10 (@SevillistasU) December 13, 2022
With Bruno Lage getting the boot from Wolves in October, Lopetegui finally took the Molineux hot seat in November 2022 and won his first match in charge - a Carabao Cup tie over League Two Gillingham.
Former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui has reportedly agreed terms to become the new manager of West Ham United.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil says the fact that he joined the club just four days before the new season meant planning too far into the future just was not feasible.
Steve Cooper's job at Nottingham Forest hangs by a thread, and already his possible replacements are shuffling into position to grab the City Ground hotseat.
Mikel Arteta believes Basque food is the secret behind the success of a string of managers from the region.
Part two of our Planet Sport Bet specials preview features Premier League title favourites Manchester City and challengers Liverpool.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui says it would be foolish to criticise Arsenal after they fell short in their race to the Premier League title.
Financial fair play rules will prevent Wolves from splashing big in the transfer market. Could that lead to Julen Lopetegui's departure?