Spain have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui a day before the World Cup starts.
Lopetegui, a former goalkeeper with both Real Madrid and Barcelona, had agreed to replace Zinedine Zidane as Real boss on a three-year deal on Tuesday.
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales maintained the organisation found out only five minutes before Real issued a press release, confirming Lopetegui’s appointment, that he would take over after the World Cup.
He said: “We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish him the greatest of luck.
“The negotiations have occurred without any information to the Spanish FA and we were informed just five minutes before the press release. There’s a way to act that needs to be fulfilled.”
Lopetegui had coached all Spain’s youth teams and replaced Vicente del Bosque as head coach in 2016, after two years with FC Porto.
Spain begin their Group B campaign against Portugal on Friday.
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