Lopetegui succeeds del Bosque as Spain coach

SPAIN’S football federation, RFEF, named Julen Lopetegui as the new coach of the national team yesterday, replacing Vicente del Bosque.

“We are not going to throw away the many wonderful things this national team has given us”.

Spain face Belgium on 1 September before beginning their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign four days later against minnows Liechtenstein.

This latest development was confirmed on the Spanish Federation’s official website, as they explained that he will be officially presented later on Thursday.

The former Porto boss will take charge for an as-yet undisclosed length of time, following the resignation of Vicente del Bosque, who stood down after his side’s Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Italy.

Del Bosque’s eight-year stint included World Cup and European Championship titles.

Thanks to his success with Spain’s under-19s and under-21s, he has always been a favourite of Spanish FA head Angel Maria Villar, who made the appointment before concentrating on his bid to replace Michel Platini as UEFA chief.

Lopetegui has been selected to take the reins after Spain failed to retain the European Championship crown by getting knocked out in the last-16 stage.

The 49-year-old was sacked by Porto in January after the club went three matches without a win.

“We will not waste many wonderful things that this team has given us. Spanish football is proud of its past, but we will look to the future”.

He led Spain to the 2012 European U19 Championship in Estonia and repeated the feat the following year with the U21 side for the Championships in Switzerland.