Real Madrid finally sack Lopetegui and announce Solari as interim boss

Real Madrid finally sack Lopetegui and announce Solari as interim boss

 Así vivió el técnico merengue la dura derrota de su equipo en el Clásico / | LALIGA

Lopetegui's gone after Madrid's 5-1 Clasico defeat to Barcelona on Sunday

It was a question of hours, an open secret. But it was not until 21.00h that Real Madrid finally confirmed Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as their coach. 

The Basque took charge of training on Monday but was aware that Florentino Perez was set to pull the trigger at any moment. That moment came after a board meeting later in the day. 

Lopetegui will be replaced in the short-term by Santiago Hernán Solari, the Madrid Castilla coach, as the search goes on for a new manager.

Madrid appointed Lopetegui in the summer after Zinedine Zidane quit. The confirmation of Lopetegui's appointment led to him being sacked as Spain coach on the eve of the World Cup. 

Results have not gone his way at the Bernabeu, though, and four-and-a-half months laters he finds himself on the dole after Sunday's humiliation at Camp Nou. 

The 5-1 loss to Barcelona was Madrid's third defeat in a row in La Liga and leaves them ninth in the table after 10 games. 

Madrid's statement read: "The Real Madrid board met on Oct. 29, 2018, and have agreed to end the link between Julen Lopetegui and the club.  

"The decision will hopefully change the dynamic the team is currently in, with all this season's objectives still attainable. 

 

"The board feel there's a huge gap between the quality of the Real Madrid squad -- eight players nominated for the upcoming Ballon d'Or -- and the results obtained so far. 

"The club thank Julen Lopetegui and all his staff for the effort and work they have done and wish them the best in their professional careers." 

He will be provisionally replaced by Santiago Solari, who will take charge of the first team on Tuesday.