Hierro to manage Spain during World Cup

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Fernando Hierro will take up the Spain manager job during World Cup 2018 in Russia, Spanish Football Federation announced Wednesday.

Football Federation Chairman Luis Rubiales made the announcement during a press meeting.

"Fernando Hierro will assume the position of national coach in the World Cup of Russia and will appear before the media accompanied by the president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales," according to an official statement.

"Next, he will direct his first training and on Friday he will debut in Sochi against Portugal," it added.

Rubiales announced Lopetegui's termination during a news conference on Wednesday, after Real Madrid announced Tuesday that Lopetegui will be the club's new manager.

Despite Rubiales' previous announcement that Lopetegui's contract would be terminated after the World Cup, local media reports had suggested the Spanish Football Federation chairman was "angry" about Lopetegui's decision.

In the news conference, Rubiales said he learnt about Lopetegui deal with Real Madrid only minutes before it was announced.

"I found out five minutes before the official statement came out, I asked nothing to be done, because the news caught me in Moscow.

"The RFEF can not be excluded from a negotiation of one of its workers," Rubiales said.

Earlier, Real Madrid said in a statement: "Real Madrid C. F. announce that Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of the first team during the next three seasons. Julen Lopetegui will join the club after Spain’s participation in the World Cup, after two years leading the national team."