Julen Julen Lopetegui is one of the most prestigious coaches on the national and international scene. The national team coach for Qatar at the 2026 World Cup, he has managed Real Madrid (including their reserve team), the Spanish youth national teams (Under-19, Under-20, and Under-21) with considerable success, Porto, West Ham, and Wolverhampton.
His triumphs with the youth teams, and his experience working with most of the players on the current national team, were the best credentials for Julen’s appointment as national team coach. Julen took the reins of football in Spain and was chosen by the Federation to succeed Vicente del Bosque as national team coach.
Lopetegui led Spain to first place in their group for the 2018 World Cup, and the team remained undefeated during his tenure, having faced teams of the caliber of Italy, Colombia, France, England, and Belgium in both official and friendly matches.
Following these excellent results, he went on to manage prestigious clubs such as Real Madrid and Sevilla in Spain (with whom he won a Europa League title and achieved three consecutive Champions League qualifications) and West Ham and Wolverhampton in England.
From there, he returned to international football with the complex task of guiding Qatar’s qualification for the World Cup. In just five months, the Basque coach secured the country’s first-ever World Cup berth, thanks to the merits of their qualifying performances.
As a player, Julen played in goal for the two biggest clubs in Spain: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. With them, he won a La Liga title, three Spanish Super Cups, a Copa del Rey, and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. His spectacular performances for CD Logroñés earned him a place on the national team, which he led to the World Cup in the United States.
Having gained experience as a coach at Rayo Vallecano and Castilla, he also made his mark with the national youth teams. With the Under-19 team, he won the European Championship in 2012, and with the Under-21 team, the European Championship in 2013. In 2014, he took charge of FC Porto, leading one of the most exciting sporting projects in Europe. He is currently the manager of the Spanish national team.
Aside from his coaching career, Julen Lopetegui has worked as a football commentator on television. He contributed to La Sexta’s coverage of the 2006 World Cup and also has extensive experience as a guest on sports analysis programs.
Career as a coach
- 2003-04. Rayo Vallecano
- 2008-09. Real Madrid Castilla
Sixth in the second group of Segunda B. - 2010-14. Spanish young teams coach.
U-19 Spain. 2012 European champion. The team beats Greece in the final in Estonia. The team doesn’t lose any game in the tournament. Top scorer team (11 goals).
U-20 Spain. Reaches the quarterfinal in the World Cup in Colombia (2011). They lose to Brazil on penalties, that won the tournament.
Quarter-finalist at the 2013 World Cup in Turkey. They lost to Uruguay in the extra time.
U-21 Spain. European champion in Israel 2013. Win 4-2 to Italy in the final. They won the five games in the tournament with 12 goals scored and just two conceded. - 2014-2016. FC Porto
Second on the league Primeira Liga and quarter-finalist in the Champions League. - 2016-2018. Spain’s National Coach
- 2018. Real Madrid
- 2019-2022. Sevilla
Europa League champion. Three Champions League qualifications. - 2022-2023. Wolverhampton.
- 2024. West Ham.
- 2025. Selección de Catar.
Clasificación al Mundial 2026.
Career as a player
- 1983-85. Real Sociedad B
- 1985-88. Real Madrid Castilla
- 1988-89. UD Las Palmas
- 1989-91. Real Madrid
Debuts with Real Madrid in La Liga at the Vicente Calderón (penultimate day 1989-90).
La Liga Champion 1989-90.
Spanish Supercup Champion (1990-91 season). - 1991-94. CD Logroñés
107 matches for Logroñés. The team played in Primera those three years.
Debuts with Spain in March 1994 (in a friendly against Croacia).
He is on the list for the 1994 World Cup in the US. - 1994-97. FC Barcelona
Debuts in the second leg of the Supercup against Zaragoza (1994-95) .
Copa del Rey Champion (season 1996-97).
Two times Spanish Supercup winner (seasons 1994-95 and 1996-97).
Cup Winners´ Cup Champion (season 1996-97). - 1997-02. Rayo Vallecano
Primera División promotion (season 1998-99).