Fernando Hierro, who stood in as Spain coach when
Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the World Cup, will not
continue in the role, the Spanish football federation said Sunday.
Under the former Real Madrid and Spain defender, who had little
previous coaching experience, 2010 winners Spain lost on penalties to
host nation Russia in the last 16.
“After travelling many kilometres together, the Spanish Football
Federation and Fernando Hierro have put an end to their relationship,”
the federation said.
Hierro declined to return to his previous job as the federation’s
technical director and “will undertake new professional challenges”, the
federation wrote.
Spain were tipped among the favourites until Lopetegui caused chaos
by announcing he would become Real Madrid’s new coach after the World
Cup.
In this file photo taken on July 01, 2018 Spain’s coach Fernando Hierro
gestures from the sideline during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16
football match between Spain and Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in
Moscow on July 1, 2018. AFP PHOTO
The federation, fearing a split between players from Barcelona and
Real, sacked Lopetegui two days before Spain’s opening game against
Portugal.
He described it as the saddest day of his life since the death of his mother.
Andres Iniesta, the former Barcelona great who scored the winning
goal in the 2010 World Cup final, retired from the international team
after the defeat to Russia.
Source: Punch
Leave a Reply