Julen Lopetegui will be managing in the Premier League after all after being appointed as the new Wolves manager.
The ex-Barcelona goalkeeper and Real Madrid boss was twice previously linked with a switch to Manchester United in the year since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking. He initially rebuffed a move to Molineux too, explaining he wanted more time with his family following his dismissal from Sevilla exactly a month ago.
But talks recently reopened and a deal has been quickly struck for a man who was top of Wolves’ wishlist. Lopetegui was initially linked with the vacant United hot seat shortly after Solskjaer was relieved of his duties.
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At the time, Sevilla were doing well in La Liga, sitting third after a promising start kept them within touch of the title challengers. When asked about a potential move to Old Trafford - something that Cristiano Ronaldo ’s agent Jorge Mendes pushed for - he branded the proposition “absurd”.
The 56-year-old was again touted as Ralf Rangnick’s potential successor, this time more vehemently. He quickly nipped this in the bud, saying: "I am where I want to be. Continue on the Sevilla bench next season? I have no doubt."
His club sat second then, but would ultimately gain just 13 more points for the rest of the season, only just securing a Champions League spot. Financial troubles became public towards the end of the campaign and they were forced to sell big stars such as Jules Kounde over the summer in order to steady the balance sheet.
Lopetegui was dismissed on October 5 on the back of a 4-1 thumping by Borussia Dortmund in Manchester City’s Champions League group, with Sevilla left 17th in La Liga. While he was riding high in March, the Spaniard’s rejection of United would have least offered some clarity on the managerial pursuit front.
When Lopetegui snuffed at United a second time, the club had earmarked Erik ten Hag as their preferred suitor and had made an approach. A week later, Ajax said they expected the Dutchman to leave for England.
Lopetegui ruling himself out of the job may have made United’s managerial search simpler, and in the coming months their appointment of Ten Hag was vindicated. Anthony Martial’s injury-hit loan spell at Sevilla was drab at best while Lopetegui failed to trigger a revival of Alex Telles, who loaned to the club during the summer.
United’s upwards trajectory under Erik ten Hag and his handling of Ronaldo’s misbehaviour have shown the club have undoubtedly chosen the right man. He’s even managed to revitalise the United career of Marcus Rashford - and Martial too, between his persistent injury troubles.
Lopetegui - who takes up his role on November 14 after the season pauses - will meet Ten Hag with a point to prove in one of the Reds’ first fixtures after the World Cup.
The two clubs will clash on New Year’s Eve during Lopetegui’s Molineux bow in what will be only his second game in charge. Lopetegui has faced United once before, guiding Sevilla to a 2-1 Europa League semi-final win during their 2020 trophy success.
He will want to prove he’s still got it while Ten Hag will be eager to show why he was United’s first pick.
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