• Struggling Premier League outfit Wolves hired Julen Lopetegui as their new manager
• Interim manager Steve Davis is in charge of Wolves, who are currently lagging one off the foot of the table
• Lopetegui is expected to lead his first match for Everton following the World Cup on December 26

Wolves, a struggling Premier League team, have finally found their man after selecting former Sevilla and Spain manager Julen Lopetegui as their new manager on Saturday.

“The vastly experienced Spaniard, who has worked in coaching and management for nearly 20 years, will begin his first Premier League role on Monday 14th November,” Bruno Lage, who was fired last month after a run of just one victory over 15 Premier League games dating back to last season, is replaced by the 56-year-old.

“Julen is a top coach, with excellent experience at an elite level of the game, and we are very pleased to have agreed a deal to bring him to Wolves” said Wolves chairman Jeff Shi.

“Since the very beginning, Julen has been our number one choice to manage Wolves, and we look forward to welcoming him and his team when they join us in the coming weeks.”

Interim manager Steve Davis is in charge of Wolves, who are currently lagging one off the foot of the table.

After Michael Beale, the manager of QPR, turned down the opportunity to relocate to Molineux, he was anticipated to continue in interim command until the new year.

Initially rejecting an approach for private reasons, Lopetegui later decided to accept it.

He served as the country’s coach for two years before being unexpectedly fired on the eve of the 2018 World Cup for agreeing to lead Real Madrid once Spain’s participation in the event was over.

He only held the position at Real Madrid for 138 days before resigning following Barcelona’s humiliating 5-1 Clasico victory.

After three years at Sevilla, Lopetegui was most recently fired in October. The firing came after Borussia Dortmund humiliated Sevilla 4-1 at home in the Champions League.

Former goalkeeper Lopetegui, who played for Real Madrid and Barcelona and earned one cap for Spain, joined the Andalusian team in June 2019 and led them to a record-setting sixth Europa League championship in his debut campaign.

Wolves, a Chinese-owned team in the midlands, are hosting Brighton later on Saturday. With just two victories from 13 games this season, Wolves currently sits on 10 points, one point clear of last-place Nottingham Forest.

At his new position, he will see three familiar people.

When Lopetegui led Porto in 2014, the Wolves captain Ruben Neves made his senior football debut at the age of just 17. Under Lopetegui, forward Diego Costa helped Spain win the 2018 World Cup, and as Spain’s under-19 manager, defender Jonny of the Wolves received his first opportunities to play for his country.

When the Premier League resumes play after the World Cup on December 26, it is believed that Lopetegui would take command of his first game for his new club against Everton.

According to the club release, “Subject to being granted work permits, Lopetegui and his team will take over at Molineux following the club’s Premier League fixture against Arsenal, giving him the World Cup period to prepare for his first game in charge of Wolves in late December.”

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