.jpg) Lopetegui asSpain manager in 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Julen Lopetegui Argote[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1966-08-28)28 August 1966 (age 59)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Asteasu, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Qatar (manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Sociedad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1988 | Castilla | 61 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1991 | Real Madrid | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | →Las Palmas (loan) | 31 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Logroñés | 107 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1997 | Barcelona | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2002 | Rayo Vallecano | 112 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 317 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Spain | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–2000 | Basque Country | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Rayo Vallecano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Real Madrid B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Spain U19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | Spain U20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Spain U21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Porto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Real Madrid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2022 | Sevilla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | West Ham United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Qatar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Julen Lopetegui Argote (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈʝulenlopeˈteɣjaˈɣote]; born 28 August 1966) is a Spanish professionalfootball manager and formerfootballer. He is the current manager of theQatar national team.
Agoalkeeper, he played 149La Liga matches over nine seasons, representingReal Madrid,Logroñés,Barcelona andRayo Vallecano in the competition. He added 168 appearances in theSegunda División for three clubs, winning one cap forSpain and being a member of the squad at the1994 World Cup.
Lopetegui started working as a manager in 2003, and spent several years in charge ofSpain's youth teams, leading theunder-19 andunder-21 sides to European titles. He was also head coach of the senior national team for two years, but was dismissed before the start of the2018 World Cup following the announcement of his agreement to join Real Madrid after the tournament. In club football, he managed Rayo Vallecano,Castilla,Porto, Real Madrid,Sevilla,Wolverhampton Wanderers andWest Ham United, winning the2020 Europa League with Sevilla.
Born inAsteasu,Gipuzkoa, Lopetegui started his professional career at localReal Sociedad.[3] In 1985, he accepted an offer fromReal Madrid, where the 19-year-old played in theB team.[3]
After a loan spell atLas Palmas, Lopetegui returned, but could never dislodge another veteran,Francisco Buyo,[3] only managing oneLa Liga appearance over two seasons,[4] a 3–3 away draw againstAtlético Madrid as Real were alreadycrowned league champions.[5] He subsequently signed withLogroñés, being instrumental as the modestRiojan club consistently managed to retain its top-flight status.[6][7][8]
WhenAndoni Zubizarreta left forValencia in 1994, Lopetegui joinedBarcelona,[9] battling – and losing – for first-choice status with longtime understudyCarles Busquets.[10] After theCatalans boughtPorto'sVítor Baía, he was further demoted to third string, and returned toMadrid withSegunda División clubRayo Vallecano in 1997.[3]
Lopetegui was a starter in his first two seasons at Rayo, culminating with theirplay-off final win overExtremadura in June 1999.[11] After returning to the top tier he lost his place toAmerican internationalKasey Keller and thenImanol Etxeberria; he played 36 top-flight games from1999 to2002. He was nonetheless favoured for the team's run to the quarter-finals of theUEFA Cup in2000–01, where they were eliminated by compatriotsAlavés.[12] He retired at the age of 36.[3]
Lopetegui's performances at Logroñés earned him his solecap withSpain, coming on as asubstitute for Zubizarreta for the final 30 minutes of a 2–0friendly loss toCroatia inValencia, on 23 March 1994.[13] He was subsequently picked for thesquad atthat year'sFIFA World Cup.[3]
Lopetegui was one ofSpain coachJuan Santisteban's assistants at the2003 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[14] After the tournament, he had his first head coaching spell at Rayo, with the club in the second division, but was sacked after the tenth match of the2003–04 campaign,[15] which ended in relegation toSegunda División B. After working as asports commentator, including forLaSexta in the2006 FIFA World Cup,[16] he returned to coaching, with Real Madrid Castilla, who he played for in the 1980s, now in the third tier.[17]
From 2010 to 2014, Lopetegui worked with theSpanish youth teams, winning the2012 European Under-19 Championship[18] and the2013 Under-21 Championship.[19] He left theRoyal Spanish Football Federation on 30 April 2014, following the expiration of his contract.[20]
Lopetegui returned to club duties on 6 May 2014, being appointed at Portugal's Porto.[21] He signed seven Spanish players to the club that summer.[22]
In hisfirst season at theEstádio do Dragão, with the club's biggest budget ever,[23] Lopetegui led them to thequarter-finals of theUEFA Champions League, where they equalled the club's biggest defeat inEuropean competitions losing 6–1 againstBayern Munich (having lost by the same score toAEK Athens in 1978).[24] He failed to win any silverware, contributing to the longest drought duringJorge Nuno Pinto da Costa's presidency.[25]
On 8 January 2016, after a1–3 home loss toMarítimo in theTaça da Liga,[26] as Porto had already been eliminated from theChampions League and was ranked third in thedomestic league after an away loss and a home draw, Lopetegui was relieved of his duties and replaced byRui Barros.[27] A week later, the club announced that it had terminated the former's contract unilaterally.[28]
On 21 July 2016, after being strongly linked to English sideWolverhampton Wanderers which was under new ownership,[29] Lopetegui was announced as the new manager of the Spain national team followingVicente del Bosque's retirement.[30][31] In his first match in charge, on 1 September, he led them to a 2–0 friendly victory overBelgium at theKing Baudouin Stadium;[32] the nation qualified for the2018 World Cup, winning nine and drawing one of theirgroup matches.[33]
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 the conclusion of Spain's involvement at the World Cup.[34] The following day, he was dismissed from his job with the national team and replaced byFernando Hierro.[35][36]
Lopetegui's first competitive game in charge took place on 15 August 2018, in a4–2 loss to rivalsAtlético Madrid in theUEFA Super Cup afterextra time.[37] He thus became the second Real manager to start his tenure by conceding four goals, after EnglishmanMichael Keeping who began in 1948 being downed 4–1 byCelta.[38]
Following a string of bad results and, ultimately, a 5–1 away defeat to Barcelona inEl Clásico on 28 October 2018, Lopetegui was fired a day later,[39] being replaced bySantiago Solari.[40]
On 5 June 2019, Lopetegui was appointed as the newSevilla manager on a three-year contract.[41][42] In hisfirst year, they finished fourth toqualify for the Champions League,[43] and on 21 August they defeatedInter Milan 3–2 in the2020 UEFA Europa League final, his first club honour.[44]
Lopetegui agreed to a further two-year extension on 10 January 2021.[45] On 5 October 2022, however, following five losses in eight matches in thenew season – the last being 4–1 at home againstBorussia Dortmund in theChampions League – he was dismissed.[46][47]
After leaving Sevilla, Lopetegui was interviewed by Wolverhampton, who had recently dismissedBruno Lage, but he initially turned down the offer due to his 92-year-old father's ill health.[48] He was approached again and, on 5 November 2022, announced he would become the club's new head coach effective 14 November.[49] On his competitive debut on 20 December, his team defeatedEFL League Two sideGillingham 2–0 at home in thefourth round of theEFL Cup;[50] this put them into the last eight for the first time since1995–96.[51] Six days later, on hisPremier League bow, they won 2–1 atEverton with a last-minuteRayan Aït-Nouri goal, and the manager thereby became the first at the club to win his opening match in the top flight sinceJohn Barnwell in 1978.[52]
Lopetegui eventually led Wolves to13th place.[53] In May 2023, he addressed speculation that he would leave due to theWest Midlands club's financial situation;[54] he had stressed the need for new players to the management, but had only learned of the severity of the economic constraints at the end of the campaign.[55] Due to this and other reported disagreements, he left by mutual consent on 8 August.[56][57]
On 23 May 2024, Lopetegui remained in the English top division as the new head coach ofWest Ham United, taking the place of the recently departedDavid Moyes; he signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[58][59] On his debut on 17 August, he oversaw a 2–1 home loss againstAston Villa, as the Hammers broke a league record by being defeated 16 times on opening days.[60] He achieved his first win one week later, 2–0 atCrystal Palace.[61]
In January 2025, West Ham were reported to be considering sacking Lopetegui following a 5–0 home defeat againstLiverpool and a 4–1 loss toManchester City. They had also been reported to have been considering his dismissal the previous month, before he achieved a 2–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and went on a four-match unbeaten run, their best ofthe season.[62] He was relieved of his duties on 8 January with the team in 14th position, seven points above the relegation positions; during his tenure, they lost nine of 20 Premier League games,[63] and he brokeLou Macari's record of the fewest matches managed by a permanent manager of the club by taking charge of 18 less than Macari's 40.[64]
On 1 May 2025, Lopetegui was announced as the new manager of theQatar national team until the2027 AFC Asian Cup;[65] he became the third Spaniard ever in less than two years to be appointed at the job.[66] On 14 October, his sidequalified for the2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating theUnited Arab Emirates 2–1, marking a first-ever presence in the tournament through that stage and their second overall.[67]
Sporting directorMonchi, who worked with Lopetegui at Sevilla, described him as having three virtues that are fundamental for any coach: great professional qualities, competitiveness and group management. He also highlighted Lopetegui's fit to work in big clubs saying that 'Julen perfectly understands what a big club needs, he has his requests, but it’s normal, and he always works in sync with the club. He is demanding but only for the good of those who appointed him and never out of selfishness.'[68]
Lopetegui's father,José Antonio, was aweightlifter. DuringFrancisco Franco's dictatorial regime, he acted as mayor of Asteasu.[69]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Rayo Vallecano | 1 July 2003 | 3 November 2003 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 17 | −7 | 018.18 | [70] |
| Real Madrid B | 1 July 2008 | 30 June 2009 | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 60 | 45 | +15 | 047.37 | [70] |
| Spain U19-U20-U21 | 1 August 2010 | 30 April 2014 | 45 | 38 | 3 | 4 | 131 | 48 | +83 | 084.44 | [70] |
| Porto | 1 July 2014 | 7 January 2016 | 78 | 53 | 16 | 9 | 159 | 54 | +105 | 067.95 | [71] |
| Spain | 21 July 2016 | 13 June 2018 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 61 | 13 | +48 | 070.00 | [70] |
| Real Madrid | 1 July 2018 | 29 October 2018 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 042.86 | [70] |
| Sevilla | 5 June 2019 | 5 October 2022 | 170 | 90 | 44 | 36 | 247 | 163 | +84 | 052.94 | [72] |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 14 November 2022 | 8 August 2023 | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 38 | −10 | 037.04 | [71] |
| West Ham United | 1 July 2024 | 8 January 2025 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 44 | −18 | 031.82 | [71] |
| Qatar | 1 May 2025 | Present | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | −6 | 025.00 | [71] |
| Career total | 433 | 239 | 96 | 98 | 746 | 452 | +294 | 055.20 | |||
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Spain U20
Sevilla
Spain U19
Spain U21
 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
