Football’s Zero-Sum Shocker: Lopetegui In At Real Madrid, Out At Spanish National Team

Two teams traded places–uncertainty for stability at Madrid and stability for uncertainty for the Spanish National Team.

Two seemingly separate storylines–the managerial job at Real Madrid and managing Spain’s national team–were surprisingly merged this week. That emerging situation has caused shock, if not dismay, in the country and–with the World Cup only days away–across the soccer world.

Courtesy: Eurosport

Real Madrid, which had difficulty filling its managerial job, appointed Julen Lopetegui to the job. Lopetegui, manager of Spain’s national team, was then dismissed from the team.

This story began when Real Madrid–a club with a rich history and resources–was stymied in its managerial search. It was an odd situation, too, because it should be a job with an irresistible lure. But several managers looked the other way, reportedly including Mauricio Pochettino, Max Allegri, Antonio Conte, and Joachim Low.

Why was there a “no interest” response to one of soccer’s prime positions? Here are three reasons.

Lack of job security: Being the manager of Madrid means that you get the blame if your team isn’t performing. And winning doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get credit.

Succeeding Zidane: How do you do better a manager who had won nine trophies in just two-and-half years? Real Madrid wins a trophy at the rate of every 16.5 games and it had a hat-trick in the Champions League with an astonishing 70% win rate in all competitions.

Timing wasn’t right: Zidane’s comments at his press conference were revealing. “It’s not as simple as just staying. I think it would be difficult to keep winning if I stayed.” Top replacement targets, Pochettino and Low, had just extended their respective stays. Other targets, like Allegri and Klopp, weren’t ready to leave their respective clubs.

It was all a big headache for Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, who (finally) thought he had figured out next steps by hiring Lopetegui. What he didn’t anticipate was that it would become a zero-sum game–a win for him and a loss for Spain.

So it was now up to Lopetegui to extend his goodbyes. The now-former coach spoke behind closed doors with the national team–a group that has proven to be strong Lopetegui supporters. In fact, it’s reported that several senior members of the squad tried to stop the Spanish FA from sacking the head coach.

Lopetegui thanked the players for their support and asked that the squad be united and focused on the tournament. He insisted that this squad has every possibility to win the World Cup.

But it won’t be under his leadership. Fernando Hierro is now in charge.

And Hierro looked nervous during his press introduction. He has a good reason, too. Spain’s World Cup fortunes are now (and unexpectedly) in his hands.