Julen Lopetegui is in line for a sensational instant return to football with one of the best teams in the world just 10 days after being sacked by West Ham.
It was just last week that Julen Lopetegui was sacked by West Ham in rather controversial circumstances.
The 48 hours which passed between news leaking out of the London Stadium that Lopetegui was set to be sacked and the board actually doing the deed seemed like an eternity.
Not that it hadn’t been coming.
Lopetegui had somehow survived several last chances in his short-lived West Ham reign.
But as it became clear Graham Potter would not wait forever, the Hammers hierarchy decided to pull the trigger.
Speculation had been rife for over a month that Potter had been lined up to replace the 58-year-old.
Lopetegui set for shock instant return after West Ham sacking
Like the club’s angry fans, majority owner David Sullivan had finally seen enough when West Ham lost 5-0 and 4-1 to Liverpool and Man City.
Much was made of the fact Lopetegui had continued to take training despite knowing he was about to be handed his P45.
The former Wolves boss reportedly fell out with technical director Tim Steidten as it all ended on a rather messy note.
The ex Spain manager was finally put out of his misery last Wednesday.
But not before Lopetegui made a very bizarre demand to West Ham’s board in which they had to swiftly intervene.
The Hammers said Lopetegui had failed to meet their expectations in the first half of the season.
As a result West Ham felt they had no choice but to make his tenure the shortest of any permanent boss in the club’s 130-year history.
It was among the worst too. Lopetegui departed West Ham with a worse win ratio than the hapless Avram Grant.
So what is happening this evening will stop many Hammers fans in their tracks.
Hammers flop Lopetegui in running to be new Belgium boss
Because Lopetegui is in line for a shock instant return to football after his West Ham sacking.
Just 10 days on from being shown the door by Sullivan and co, Lopetegui is interviewing to take charge of one of the best teams in world football.
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Lopetegui is one of two prime candidates to be the new Belgium manager.
The world’s eighth best team – formerly ranked the best in the world by FIFA – are looking for a new manager having sacked one-time West Ham target Domenico Tedesco.
Now ironically it could be the man the Hammers have just sacked who takes over.
The job is between Lopetegui and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
According to Belgian journalist Tavolieri, a friend of Hammers News, Henry would be the choice of the players if they had their say.
But he claims Lopetegui has very much come into the Belgian FA’s thinking now.
In fact it is suggested Tedesco was shown the door in light of Lopetegui’s availability following his Hammers departure.
This would be a sensational turnaround for Lopetegui.
After being sacked by West Ham after walking out on Wolves, many assumed he might struggle to get another job outside of perhaps his native Spain.
But now there is every chance he’ll be the new manager of Belgium in a shocking turn of events.
Lopetegui sent a classy message to West Ham on social media after his sacking was confirmed.
That took some by surprise given the way he was treated.
After going through a difficult time personally of late, nobody at West Ham will begrudge Lopetegui some positive news in his life.
And Hammers fans and the board will undoubtedly watch how Lopetegui gets on with great interest.
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