Lopetegui Close to Being Sacked by Real Madrid

The pressure is mounting on Julen Lopetegui after a poor start to the season for Real Madrid.

Following a 5-1 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona, Real Madrid are now ninth in the La Liga table, seven points behind leaders Barcelona. Lopetegui's side have also been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Leganés and have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Lopetegui is now the favorite to be the next manager to be sacked in the Premier League, with Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, and Roberto Mancini all being linked with the job.

Who is Julen Lopetegui?

Julen Lopetegui is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the current manager of Real Madrid.

Lopetegui began his managerial career with Rayo Vallecano in 2003. He then had spells with Real Madrid Castilla, Spain U19, Spain U20, and Spain U21 before being appointed manager of the Spain national team in 2016.

Lopetegui was sacked by Spain on the eve of the 2018 World Cup after it was announced that he had agreed to become Real Madrid manager after the tournament.

What are Lopetegui's strengths and weaknesses?

Lopetegui is a well-respected coach who has a good track record of developing young players. He is also known for his attacking style of play.

However, Lopetegui has also been criticized for his lack of experience at the highest level and his tendency to make tactical mistakes.

What is Lopetegui's future at Real Madrid?

Lopetegui is under increasing pressure at Real Madrid following a poor start to the season. The club's hierarchy are said to be unhappy with his performance and are considering sacking him.

If Lopetegui is sacked, he is likely to be replaced by Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, or Roberto Mancini.