MADRID, Oct 30 (Agencies): In just months, Julen Lopetegui has lost two of the most high-profile coaching jobs in the world.
Lopetegui was finally fired by Real Madrid on Monday, less than five months after he was sacked by Spain before the World Cup for not telling federation officials he accepted the Madrid job.
The latest firing followed a meeting by the club's board of directors on Monday, a day after the team was crushed by Barcelona 5-1 at Camp Nou Stadium.
Santiago Solari, coach of Real Madrid B, will take charge for the Copa del Rey match against third-division club Melilla on Wednesday.
Spanish media speculated Solari, a former Madrid player, was in the running for the permanent job along with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
The firing caps a horrible few months for Lopetegui and is likely to deal a significant setback to his career. After doing well with Spain's youth teams, he had a lackluster stint with Portuguese club Porto, but gained prominence after revamping Spain and turning it into a contender entering the World Cup.
Madrid said in a statement it sacked 52-year-old Lopetegui to "change the team's dynamic while all of its objectives for the season were still reachable."
They have lost five of their last seven matches.
Lopetegui, who led the team practice on Monday morning, was hired by Madrid to replace Zinedine Zidane, who quit after leading the club to the last three Champions League titles. In 14 matches with Lopetegui, Madrid won six, lost six, and drew two.
Lopetegui is the second La Liga coach to be fired. The first was Leo Franco of promoted club Huesca, currently last in the 20-team standings.
Meanwhile, Santiago Solari took charge of his first training session as interim Real Madrid coach on Tuesday.
The Argentinian, a former midfielder with the Spanish Liga giants, has replaced Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked following Real's 5-1 defeat to Barcelona on Sunday.
According to Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rules, Solari's temporary tenure with the Champions League holders can last no more than 14 days, after which the club must decide to appoint him permanently or find another coach to replace Lopetegui. Solari's first game in charge will be a last 16 Spanish Cup tie against third division club Melilla on Tuesday.
Temporary coach of Real Madrid CF, Argentinian former player Santiago Solari, attending a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training facilities in Madrid's suburb of Valdebebas on Tuesday — AFP
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