Russia 2018 | Fernando Hierro is the favorite to coach Spain in the World Cup.

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Spain fires Julen Lopetegui a day before the start of the World Cup

UPDATE: After the publication of this note, Spain confirmed Hierro's appointment as coach of the national team.

Fernando Hierro, former captain of Real Madrid and current sports director of the Spanish Federation of Football (RFEF), is the strongest candidate to replace Julen Lopetegui, with the help of Albert Celades in the new technical team, after Luis Rubiales announced the desire to "make as little changes as possible."

The president of the RFEF was unable to give the name of Lopetegui's replacement at the press conference announcing his dismissal, despite the delay of an hour and a half from the scheduled time. "We have to work on a series of decisions two days before the start of the World Cup," he said.

Rubiales' first intention is to choose someone who is already part of the RFEF and knows the players well. The spotlight is on Hierro, according to internal sources, who returned in a second stage as sports director and was already a liaison between the players and the board during Vicente del Bosque's tenure. He has also coached Real Oviedo.

Critical Moment

"The players and the new technical team will do everything possible to take the team as far as possible. The situation is very complicated," said Rubiales. "We are going to make as few changes as possible and that's what we're working on. As soon as we have something to communicate, we will do so."

When asked about Quique Setién, coach of Real Betis who has been mentioned by the Spanish press as Lopetegui's replacement, Rubiales hinted that they are not considering an external option. "What we are going to do is make as few changes as possible to the team," but at no time did he want to publicly evaluate the option of Hierro. "I don't want to get into names, we will say what we have to say soon."

EFE