The Belgian Union has identified Julen Lopetegui as the main candidate to succeed Domenico Tedesco as coach of the Red Devils. Discussions took place with Vincent Mannaert.
In recent hours, the trail leading to Julen Lopetegui has gained momentum. The 58-year-old Spaniard is at the top of the shortlist, but it is not yet certain whether he will become our new coach. If that doesn’t happen, Mannaert has other options in store, including Thierry Henry and Rudi Garcia.
A big obstacle in the negotiations is the limited budget of the Belgian Union. Lopetegui, with his impressive CV, is not a cheap pick. Although he is currently without a club following his dismissal from West Ham last January, his salary expectations remain high, Sporza raises.
Under his leadership, West Ham disappointed and finished only 14th in the Premier League, leading to his departure after six months. If his last club experiences have been difficult, coaching a selection is not unknown to him.
-Lopetegui knows Courtois well
Between 2016 and 2018, he was the Spain coach and had a promising start, including a 0-2 victory against Belgium in the first match of the Roberto Martinez era, he then led La Roja to the Cup du Monde 2018. However, his tenure ended abruptly when he was fired just before the tournament following the announcement of his signing for Real Madrid. This caused great agitation in Spanish football.
The Basque has also worked at top clubs like FC Porto, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Wolverhampton, winning the 2020 Europa League with the Sevillians.
His appointment could be a positive signal for a return of Thibaut Courtois. Lopetegui briefly coached the Belgian goalkeeper at Real Madrid, his return is precisely one of the demands made by Mannaert.
