Breaking News: Spain sacked their national team coach as world cup 2018 is about to commence in Russia

Published on June 13 2018 by Ayodele Gbenga B.

Spain's coach Julen Lopetegui has been sacked. Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales confirmed this on Wednesday just two days before the team opening game against Portugal at the World Cup in Russia.

In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, Real Madrid named the coach as their next manager to start work after the tournament in Russia, sparking outrage among the federation and Spanish fans at the timing of the announcement.

At a severely delayed press conference at Spain’s World Cup base in Krasnodar, Rubiales appeared to say he felt Lopetegui’s decision to join Madrid so close to the start of the tournament “obliged” him to take drastic action

Lopetegui who just signed a contract extension until 2020 just last month and Rubiales is reportedly angry at only being informed of his decision to join Real Madrid minutes before the European champions made the announcement public.

There are rumours that he with be replace by the team under 21 manager Albert Celades.

Lopetegui was appointed Spain’s coach in July 2016 and never tasted defeat in the job, leading the team through 20 unbeaten games ahead of the World Cup.

However, according to reports in the Spanish media, the players tried to intervene at the last minute to prevent Rubiales sacking Lopetegui.