Fernando Hierro to take charge of Spain football team for FIFA World Cup 2018

Fernando Hierro has been named the Spain football team’s new coach for the duration of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia after they sacked Julen Lopetegui.

football Updated: Jun 13, 2018 17:54 IST
Fernando Hierro was named head coach of the Spain football team for FIFA World Cup 2018.(Twitter)

Fernando Hierro will take charge of the Spain football team for the duration of the FIFA World Cup 2018 following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed.

The 50-year-old former national team captain was appointed within hours of the announcement of Lopetegui’s departure. The RFEF did not specify whether Hierro may continue in the role beyond the finals in Russia.

READ | Julen Lopetegui sacked by Spain on eve of 2018 FIFA World Cup

Lopetegui was sensationally sacked on Wednesday after agreeing to become the next Real Madrid head coach, with RFEF president Luis Rubiales furious that the European champions only informed him of the deal minutes before the news was made public.

Rubiales told a news conference that he was left with no choice but to dismiss Lopetegui, just three weeks after he signed a new contract until 2020, and stressed the need to appoint a replacement without causing undue disruption to the squad.

Hierro, a winner of five LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues in a glittering Madrid career, is relatively inexperienced as a coach.

He was an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Madrid during the 2014-15 season before taking charge of second-tier Oviedo in 2016-17.

Hierro has been working as Spain’s sporting director since last November.