Wolves are to open formal talks with Julen Lopetegui to become their new manager, according to talkSPORT.
Lopetegui was relieved of his duties by Sevilla following their 4-1 home loss to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, in a match that saw Jude Bellingham in dazzling form.
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Lopetegui received his marching orders from Seville
But a new Premier League job could be on the horizon for him
Shortly after the game ended, Sevilla said in a statement: “Sevilla FC have sacked Julen Lopetegui as first-team coach following the clash between the Nervion team and Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
“Lopetegui closes a successful stage with three magnificent campaigns in which the objectives were more than achieved and a fourth season in which, however, the results were not there, Sevilla FC adding five points out of 21 possible in La Liga.
“Lopetegui will forever remain among the highlights of Sevilla FC history for his brilliant achievement of the sixth UEFA Europa League in the 2019/20 season, his first in charge, which saw him enter the select club of seven coaches who have raised a national or international diploma in Nervión.
“Similarly, he reached the historic milestone of winning three consecutive Champions League qualifications via La Liga, with a total of 222 points in 121 games.
“With him, in addition, Sevilla FC achieved the record for goals to date in the First Division with 77 points in 2020/21, as well as the first Zamora Trophy in its history, that of Yassine Bono last season.
“Sevilla FC offered Julen Lopetegui the opportunity to say goodbye publicly at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan’s facilities.
“The Nervión entity wishes to highlight and thank the professionalism and good work of the Basque coach in the more than three years spent in the house, as well as wish him the best of luck and the greatest success in his new professional projects. .”
AFP
Lopetegui said goodbye at the end of the game
Lopetegui, 56, is now in line for an early return to management replacing Bruno Lage at Wolves.
The Spanish coach’s former agent, Jorge Mendes, is influential at Molineux and pushed him for the job.
Talks are expected to take place with the Midlands club on Thursday in hopes of moving quickly to secure a deal.
Wolves have had a poor start to the season as they sit 18th in the Premier League table with just six points from eight matches.
And while Lopetegui leaves Sevilla just one point above La Liga’s relegation zone and five points off second place in their Champions League groups, he has good managerial credentials.
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Defeat at West Ham turned out to be Lage’s last game in charge
Besides winning the Europa League with Sevilla, Lopetegui managed the Spanish national team.
However, that came to a sudden end two days before the start of Spain’s 2018 World Cup campaign after it was confirmed that he had accepted the post-tournament managerial role at Real Madrid.
He lasted just 138 days at the Bernabeu before getting the boot.
