Ex West Ham and Wolves boss lands new job after Man Utd links

Former West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is to be appointed as head coach of the Qatar national team in a return to management following his sacking by the Hammers earlier this year.

The Athletic reports that the Spaniard has signed a two-year contract to take on the ‘ambitious’ role having lasted just six months at the London Stadium. Lopetegui oversaw just 22 matches in charge of West Ham, winning seven of those, and his tenure was the shortest for any permanent head coach in the club’s history.

Lopetegui has history in international management having previously been in charge of the Spanish national team. The manager was unbeaten in his 20 matches in charge of Spain but was sacked on the eve of the 2018 World Cup having agreed a deal with Real Madrid.

Ex West Ham and Wolves boss returns to management

The 58-year-old went on to manage Sevilla and win the Europa League with the club in 2020 before joining Wolves in November 2023. Lopetegui then left the Midlands outfit in the summer of 2023 before taking on the post at West Ham last summer following the departure of David Moyes.

Lopetegui will replace Luis Garcia, who had been working as interim manager of Qatar following the sacking of Marquez Lopez. It ends speculation over the Spaniard’s next job, which had seen him sensationally linked with a move to Manchester United earlier this year.

In March, Fichajes claimed that the Red Devils were looking at axing Ruben Amorim as early as the summer following FA Cup defeat to Fulham if results did not improve over ‘the next few months’ - which they have not with Manchester United winless in their last five league outings. Amorim’s side have only beaten relegated Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League since the start of February.

At that stage, the Spanish outlet named three candidates to replace Amorim with Lopetegui one of them alongside Joachim Low and Massimiliano Allegri. Writing about Lopetegui, Fichajes claimed: “With his experience at clubs such as Sevilla and Real Madrid, Julen Lopetegui is a profile that Manchester United like. He has already shown his ability to rebuild projects and make teams competitive, and is also available having been fired by West Ham.”

Julen Lopetegui ‘sad’ to leave West Ham

That would have been quite the return for Lopetegui, whose next challenge has now been confirmed. After his West Ham dismissal, Lopetegui did seem upbeat and determined to bounce back.

In a message shared on social media, he said: “Thank you to West Ham for the opportunity to manage this great club over the past six months.

“We are leaving with a sense of sadness, feeling it was too soon and that we were in position to still achieve our goals, especially after overcoming challenging situations and with a promising entire second half of the Premier League ahead. Thank you to the players for their commitment and hard work, and to all the staff at the training ground, who are truly high class.

“You made us feel at home, operating at an extraordinary level, and you will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you also to the fans, who have shown unwavering support through every high and low. I wish West Ham nothing but success in the future—once a Hammer, always a Hammer.”

In other news, West Ham stalwart 'open' to Everton move as Graham Potter boost for Man City transfer.