SACKED! Lopetegui axed on eve of World Cup after he sparked Spanish storm by secretly taking Real Madrid job as national chief admits they only found out five minutes before club appointed him

SACKED! Lopetegui axed on eve of World Cup after he sparked Spanish storm by secretly taking Real Madrid job as national chief admits they only found out five minutes before club appointed him

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Lopetegui on Tuesday agreed a deal to become Real Madrid's new manager after World Cup

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Players pleaded with Spanish FA chiefs to keep Lopetegui, but ultimately to no avail

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Fernando Hierro, Spanish FA's sporting director, is favourite to take the job if Lopetegui leaves

ulen Lopetegui has been sacked as Spain boss on the eve of the World Cup after Spanish FA chiefs were left furious following his announcement as Real Madrid boss.

Spain hastily called a press conference as reports emanated that the head of the Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales, was left outraged by the timing of the announcement.

Following a bizarre morning, during which the Spanish players pleaded with Rubiales for Lopetegui to keep his job, it was decided that the manager's position had become untenable. 

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New Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as the manager of Spain

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Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales on Wednesday announced Lopetegui would leave his role

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Rubiales was furious with the announcement of Lopetegui's decision to join Real Madrid

SPAIN'S BIZARRE 24 HOURS 

TUESDAY

4pm: Julen Lopetegui is announced as the new Real Madrid manager and it is confirmed he will take over after the World Cup

WEDNESDAY

8.30am: Spain announce they will hold a press conference amid reports Lopetegui's job is under threat

9.30am: The press conference is delayed by an hour as Spanish FA chiefs attempt to thrash out a solution to the problem 

9.45am: Spanish players, led by Sergio Ramos, plead with the head of the Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales, to allow Lopetegui to keep his job

10am: Spanish superfan Manolo 'el del Bombo', who bangs the drums in support at matches, storms into the press conference, concerned about his team's fortunes at the World Cup 

10.15am: Reports emanate from Spain that the players have convinced the Spanish FA's top brass to allow Lopetegui to continue through the World Cup

10.30am: The Spanish FA finally take the stage at their press conference, but there is no sign of Lopetegui 

10.35am: Rubiales announces Lopetegui has been relieved of his duties and claims Spain knew of the manager's move to Real Madrid only five minutes before the club announced it

Wednesday's press conference was due to start at 9.30am (BST) but was delayed by well over an hour as the Spanish FA's top brass thrashed out a solution among themselves and the players.

Members of the Spain squad, led by Los Blancos skipper Sergio Ramos, eventually failed in their bid to keep the coach in his role and it was announced shortly after that Lopetegui will indeed leave his current position with immediate effect.

One of Rubiales' first tasks in his role was to extend Lopetegui's contract and when the Spain boss reneged by signing a deal with Madrid, the Spanish FA chief was left reeling, feeling he had been played a fool.

The curious morning had earlier hit new heights when Manolo 'el del Bombo', the Spanish superfan who beats his drum with gusto at matches, marched into the press conference, concerned about the future of the national team at this summer's showpiece.

Lopetegui signed a deal with Spain until 2020 on May 22 but Real Madrid have swooped for his services and he agreed to join the Spanish giants after the Russia tournament. 

However, he will now not lead Spain in Russia and the national side must move quickly to appoint his successor. 

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Manolo 'el del Bombo', the Spanish superfan, arrived at the press conference on Wednesday 

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Lopetegui, pictured (right) with his squad on Tuesday, angered the Spanish FA top brass