Julen Lopetegui quits as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager on eve of Premier League season
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Julen Lopetegui was reportedly frustrated by Wolves' approach in the transfer market, with a number of first-team players departing this summer and few replacements found.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Julen Lopetegui has left his job as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager just days before the start of the English Premier League season after reportedly being unhappy over the club’s recruitment policy.
“Wolves and Julen Lopetegui have reached an agreement to part ways, ending the Spaniard’s nine-month reign as head coach at the club,” Wolves said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The head coach and club acknowledged and accepted their differences of opinion on certain issues and agreed that an amicable end to his contract was the best solution for all parties.”
Former Bournemouth head coach Gary O’Neil, sacked this summer after steering the Cherries to top-flight safety, is reported to be in line to replace Lopetegui.
Former Spain and Real Madrid boss Lopetegui joined Wolves in November, replacing Bruno Lage with the club bottom of the Premier League, and helped them stay in the top flight, finishing 13th.
Neither party gave detailed reasons but British media reported that the 56-year-old was unhappy with the lack of investment in the squad.
Wolves have lost key players such as former captain Ruben Neves to Saudi side Al-Hilal, Nathan Collins to Brentford, Conor Coady to Leicester City, Raul Jimenez to Fulham and Ryan Giles to Luton Town.
They have brought in only two players on free transfers – Matt Doherty and Tom King.
The club’s statement added: “Talks have been ongoing in recent weeks, held with the utmost respect and cordiality, affording the club time and space to begin work on finding a successor, while also ensuring that Julen and his backroom staff could continue their planned preparation to ensure the playing squad would be in the best possible condition for the start of the Premier League season.”
In his own statement, Lopetegui said: “I wish Wolves and everybody at the club the very best of luck for the future, and thank them for the opportunity granted at the time to take charge of this wonderful club.”
The Spaniard, whose backroom staff of Pablo Sanz, Juan Peinado, Oscar Caro, Edu Rubio, Borja De Alba Alonso and Daniel Lopetegui will also leave, took over with the club in dire straits.
He won nine league games from that point, beating Liverpool and Tottenham at Molineux, as the club finished safely in mid-table to extend their top-flight stay into a sixth season.
Noting that “it is public knowledge that there were differences of opinion”, sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “Julen and his staff leave the squad in great shape ahead of the season opener next week, which will give his successor the best possible platform for success.”
Wolves open their season away to Manchester United on Monday before hosting Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
United, meanwhile, have agreed a deal in principle to sell England defender Harry Maguire to West Ham United, media reported on Wednesday. Sky Sports television and the BBC said the deal was worth around £30 million (S$51.4 million) and personal terms were not expected to be a problem.
AFP, REUTERS
