Lopetegui, the new Spanish word for failure?

Julen Lopetegui Argote was born in Asteasu in the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa on the 28th of August 1966 and yes, every parent would hope for the best in life for such a child on such occasions.

Yes as a goalkeeper, he had dreams but the reality is that he never cut it big. Truth is that Lopetegui has always been a nearly man, gets close to actualizing his dreams only to receive rude awakenings.

From his playing days at club level where he was just a member of the squad...oh yes, he was supremo at lowly Logrones and Castilla to making just one appearance for the senior national team, he always never hit it big.

In 1985, he accepted an offer from Real Madrid, which immediately incorporated the 19-year-old to its B-team.

After a loan spell at UD Las Palmas Lopetegui returned, but could never dislodge another veteran, Francisco Buyo.

In 1994, Andoni Zubizarreta left for Valencia CF and Lopetegui felt it was a big opening to hit it big in a big club and joined FC Barcelona, battling – and losing – for first-choice status with longtime understudy Carles Busquets but the Catalans bought FC Porto's Vítor Baía and he was further demoted to third choice.

As a coach, he mnaged Real Madrid B, the Spanish U-19, U-20 and U-21. He managed FC Porto where despite the huge amount of money spent, still guided the team to equal the club's biggest defeat, a 6-1 quarter-final loss to Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League and was ranked 3rd in the Portuguese league.

Then the Spanish national team. He helped the team through a successful qualification to the 2018 world cup but then on 12 June 2018, with the team already in Russia for the tournament, it was announced that Lopetegui would take over as the head coach of Real Madrid on a three-year contract after Spain's World Cup campaign. The following day, he was dismissed from his job with the national team.

Then the Real Madrid job, after just 137 days in office he was shown the exit door. He was in charge of the team for 14 games where he won just 6, drew 2 and lost 6.

After his dismissal, Julen Lopetegui thanked the club for the opportunity in a brief statement.

"After the decision adopted by the board of directors of Real Madrid, I want to thank the club for the opportunity it gave me," he said.
"I'd also like to give thanks to the players for their effort and their work, as well as to each and every one of the club's employees, for their good treatment of me during this time.
"And, of course, my gratitude to the fans for their encouragement. "Best wishes for the remainder of the season."

Another failed dream!

For Real Madrid fans, we wish Solari or whoever eventually handles the job full time a NON-LOPETEGUI stay!

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