Following their early exit from the UEFA Euro 2016, the Spanish National Team has finally appointed a new boss.
Former FC Porto coach Julen Lopetegui will become La Roja's new tactician after Vicente del Bosque stepped down from his duties a couple of weeks ago. Lopetegui won the race to coach the 2010 World Cup champions against Joaquin Caparros and Paco Jémez, who were some of the candidates for the job.
OFFICIAL | Julen Lopetegui (@julenlopetegui) named new Spain (@SeFutbol) coach https://t.co/AutsyrBplg
— Selección Española (@SeFutbol) July 21, 2016
The Spanish coach had already been in charge of the U-19 and U-21 teams years ago, leading "La Rojita" to three consecutive titles, two U-19 championships in 2011 and 2012, and one more with the U-21 squad in 2013.
Lopetegui knows Spain needs to change the way things are done in order to keep themselves as title contenders, but that change can't be made overnight.
"There will be no revolution, but an evolution. We’ll try to take advantage of all the good Del Bosque has done for Spanish football over the years. But I always look at the present and the future, I don't look to the past," Lopetegui stated.
La Roja will debut under their new coach on September 5, when they host Liechtenstein in their first World Cup qualifier. The first good test for the Spanish team will come one month later, when they play against Italy in the city of Turin. This will be a rematch of the UEFA Euro Round of 16 match, which saw the Azzurri eliminate Spain and end their dominance in the competition.
