Real Madrid have appointed Spain national team coach Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
Zinedine Zidane, who led the Los Blancos to three successive Champions League titles, stepped down in May, saying the club needs "a different voice".
Lopetegui’s appointment comes as a considerable surprise, not just because of the timing as Spain kick off their World Cup against Portugal on Friday, but because his name hadn’t been mentioned at all in Spanish media following the French Zinedine Zidane’s shock resignation on 31 May.
Lopetegui previously managed FC Porto for two years, before taking over at the Spanish national team in July 2016 who he has guided to the World Cup in impressive fashion.
The 51-year-old will take up the position at the Bernabéu after the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia , which begins on 14 June.
A former goalkeeper, Lopetegui made one senior appearance for Real Madrid but played 107 matches for Logrones.
Lopetegui, played for Real between 1988 and 1991, making one league appearance, and later turned out for rivals FC Barcelona a handful of times. He also coached the B team, Castilla, in 2008-09 before joining the national setup as Spain Under-19 coach.
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