New Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui struggled to hold back the tears at his official unveiling as the club’s new manager on Thursday.
Lopetegui was sacked as Spain manager on Wednesday just two days before their opening World Cup match with Portugal.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said it had dismissed Lopetegui because the negotiation to Madrid occurred ‘without any consultation to the RFEF’.
Lopetegui said at a press conference that his departure from the Spanish team was the saddest day he’s endured since the passing of his mother.
“Yesterday was the saddest day of my life since the death of my mother. But today is the happiest day of my life,” Lopetegui said.
Julen Lopetegui couldn't hold back the tears 😢 pic.twitter.com/crsuzwmiYD
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 14, 2018
Lopetegui maintains that he maintained his honesty throughout the process with the Spanish Football Federation and that he tried to be transparent with FA president Luis Rubiales.
“I am very relaxed, all of us are, we have acted in a fully professional and honest way. If someone wants to understand things another way, they can. But we have been professional, honest, and clear.
“There are many precedents [of national coach moving to club after tournament]. We tried to be transparent, I am very clear that I have been fully loyal, no doubts.
“When there was something to say the first person to know was Rubiales. I wanted to give a press conference that day but could not. I am clear that the only motive to announce it was to be honest and transparent.”
Manchester United manager and former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho said that his dismissal from the national team should not affect Spain’s chances at this summer’s tournament but that he does feel some sympathy for the 51-year-old.
“It’s a strange situation,” said Mourinho on Russian broadcaster RT.
“I don’t know if Spain sacked the manager or if the manager sacked himself with the way everything happened between himself and Real Madrid.
“I feel sorry for the manager because he was with the [Spain] team for the last two years and of course he deserves to be with the team.
“But I also understand the position of the federation. They have just given him a new contract for the future.
“If it is true what I read that the president of the federation was informed a couple of minutes before the club [Real Madrid] made it official then it is a strange process.
“Spain are a team of such quality, such maturity and such an understanding that I don’t think what has happened is going to make a huge difference.
“It’s not a huge problem for them because the players are so good that they pick themselves.”
