Fernando Hierro to coach Spain at World Cup following removal of Lopetegui

Former Real Madrid defender Hierro, currently sporting director for the national team, will take charge of Spain at the World Cup following the stunning sacking of Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament.

Spain announced they had appointed the former Real Madrid and Bolton Wanderers defender Fernando Hierro as coach for the World Cup in a press conference on Wednesday, adding that the 89-times capped player will be on the sidelines for his team’s World Cup opener against Portugal on Friday.

Hierro, a former captain of Spain, will be presented to the media in Russia later on Wednesday before plans begin in earnest for the new management team to devise a strategy to defeat their Iberian peninsula rivals in their opening match in Group B.

Read more

Spain sack manager Lopetegui two days before World Cup opening game versus Portugal

"Fernando Hierro will assume the position of national coach in the World Championship of Russia and will appear before the media accompanied by the president RFEF, Luis Rubiales," a statement issued by the Spanish Football Federation read.

"Next, he will direct his first training and on Friday he will debut in Sochi at the match of Spain against Portugal."

Hierro’s appointment comes in the wake of the Spanish Football Federation’s decision to remove Lopetegui from his role as head coach following his decision to accept the role as the new boss of Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane left the post.

Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Federation, stated that Lopetegui’s actions had “forced” them into taking this action.