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Lopetegui becomes Spain's new coach

Davis Van OpdorpJuly 21, 2016

Spain have appointed former national academy coach Julen Lopetegui to take over from Vicente del Bosque after their Euro 2016 exit against Italy. The ex-goalkeeper joins after a largely unsuccessful stint with FC Porto.

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Julen Lopetegui
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Coelho

The Spanish football association (RFEF) has announced that Lopetegui, who coached Spain at U19, U20 and U21 levels, will be the next first team coach of the Spanish national team.

"There won't be a revolution, there will be an evolution," Lopetegui said at his unveiling. "The base of the national team is clear and still in its best moment. We are not thinking about a transition. Instead we are thinking about how to resolve each match ahead."

Lopetegui replaces Vicente del Bosque, who has stepped down after eight years in the job. During that time Spain won the World Cup in 2010 and retained their European Championship title in 2012. The 65-year-old decided to quit after Italy eliminated Spain in the last 16 at the Euros in France in June.

UEFA EURO 2012 Finale Spanien gegen Italien Andres Iniesta
Del Bosque has left behind quite a record to emulateImage: Reuters

The 49-year-old Lopetegui has returned to the national team set-up after his two-year stint at Porto came to an abrupt end in January when he was sacked.

Porto reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League in the 2014-15 season, but failed to win a domestic trophy in Portugal with the Spaniard in charge.

The former Real Madrid goalkeeper won the U21 Euros as Spain coach in 2013, with a side containing six current Spain internationals.