MOSCOW _ Spain will go into the World Cup under new management after the country's soccer association fired manager Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday, two days before its tournament opener against Portugal in Sochi, Russia.
The move came after Spanish club Real Madrid said Lopetegui would become its manager after the World Cup, an announcement that angered Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish soccer federation.
"The federation cannot be left out of a negotiation by one of its workers and be informed five minutes before the press release," said Rubiales, who is just a month into his job.
"It's a difficult situation, but we are not the ones who determined the action that had to be taken. The federation has its values and it has to maintain them. It may look like a weakness now, but with time this will make us stronger."
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion and one of the favorites in this summer's tournament, will be led by Fernando Hierro, 50, a former national team player and Real Madrid captain whose only head coaching experience lasted two seasons in Spain's second division.
Hierro, who played in four World Cup tournaments, had been serving as the federation's sports director.
"I couldn't have said 'no,' I wouldn't forgive myself," Hierro said of accepting his new position. "We still have a great opportunity in front of us. We have to remain positive and move forward."
Lopetegui, 51, took over for longtime coach Vicente del Bosque after the 2016 European Championship and has been credited with breathing new life into a team that was on the decline after winning three consecutive major titles between 2008 and 2012.
There were reports that some national team players, six of who also play for Real Madrid, tried to persuade Rubiales to keep Lopetegui.
"We are the national team. We represent this emblem, these colors, our fans, a country," Spain captain Sergio Ramos wrote on Twitter. "Our responsibility and commitment is to you. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, together."
