West Ham United has expressed interest in Julen Lopetegui, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport and relayed by Sport Witness. The Hammers are looking for a new manager as David Moyes’ future remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the 57-year-old former Real Madrid manager is a target for AC Milan.
Julen Lopetegui’s managerial career has been anything but smooth. During his playing career, he played as a custodian for Real Madrid and Barcelona, but he never made it into either club’s first team. His best performances were with CD Logrones and Rayo Vallecano.
The Spaniard began his managerial career in 2003, but rose to prominence more than a decade later while with FC Porto. Prior to that, he managed several Spanish youth teams, including Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid Castilla. Meanwhile, Lopetegui’s stock rose further during his time with the Spanish national team from 2016 to 2018.
Lopetegui’s time in Spain ended in controversy because he had already agreed to a contract with Real Madrid. Los Blancos ended their relationship with him after only a few months. Since then, the Spanish tactician has had a successful stint with Sevilla and a brief spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is now a free agent, and West Ham United and AC Milan are interested in signing him.
West Ham United’s interest in Julen Lopetegui is understandable. David Moyes faces an uncertain future at the East London club, which is looking for replacements. Several candidates have since emerged on West Ham’s radar, with Lopetegui also a viable option.
Stefano Pioli’s future at AC Milan is uncertain after the club failed to win a trophy this season. So the Serie A giants have identified Lopetegui and Fonseca as potential replacements for the long-serving Italian.
Recent reports suggest that the former Real Madrid manager is close to joining West Ham United. It will be interesting to see whether AC Milan can beat the Hammers to the 57-year-old’s signature in the coming weeks.
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Jonathan Jonathan