Julen Lopetegui: Wolves appoint former Spain and Real Madrid boss as new head coach | Football News

Wolves have appointed former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui as the club’s new manager.

Lopetegui succeeds Bruno Lage, who was sacked on October 2 after winning just one of his last 15 games in charge.

He will start working on November 14 when he officially takes charge of Molineux after Wolves’ last Premier League game before the World Cup against Arsenal.

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: “Julen is a top manager, with great experience at an elite level of the game, and we are very happy to have reached an agreement to bring him to Wolves.

“From the very start, Julen has been our number one choice to manage Wolves, and we look forward to welcoming him and his team when they join us in the coming weeks.”

Lopetegui was sacked by Sevilla in early October, two years after guiding the La Liga club to a record sixth Europa League crown in 2020.

Wolves approached Lopetegui last month but the 56-year-old Spaniard rejected the move on personal grounds, forcing the Midlands club to explore alternative targets.

Queens Park Rangers boss Michael Beale has appeared set to fill the vacant managerial post at Molineux until his last-minute commitment to the Championship club sends Wolves back to the drawing board.

Interim boss Steve Davis has received public backing from chairman Jeff Shi to oversee first-team affairs until the end of the year but, with Wolves languishing in the Premier League relegation zone, efforts to sign Lopetegui have been revived.

Wolves fixtures ahead of World Cup break

November 5: Brighton (h) – Premier League, 3 p.m.

November 9: Leeds (h) – Carabao Cup, 7:45 p.m.

November 12: Arsenal (h) – Premier League, 7:45 p.m.

Lopetegui’s first seven games at Wolves

December 26: Everton (a) – Premier League, 3 p.m.

December 31st : Man Utd (h) – Premier League, 12:30 p.m.

January 4: Aston Villa (a) – Premier League, 8 p.m.

January 7: TBC – FA Cup Third Round

January 14: West Ham (h) – Premier League, 3 p.m.

January the 21st : Man City (a) – Premier League

February 4: Liverpool (h) – Premier League, 3 p.m.