<p class="title">Spain coach Julen Lopetegui will take over as Real Madrid manager on a three-year contract after the World Cup, the European champions said on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Frenchman Zinedine Zidane stepped down two weeks ago, days after leading Real to a third consecutive Champions League title.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lopetegui, who last month signed a new contract through to 2020 with Spain, spent three years with Real as a player.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 51-year-old took over as Spain coach in 2016 following the retirement of Vicente Del Bosque who led his country to victory in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Spain, unbeaten in 20 games under Lopetegui, play neighbours Portugal on Friday in their opening World Cup Group B match in Sochi, Russia before facing Iran and Morocco.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former goalkeeper Lopetegui spent a season as coach of Real’s B-team Castilla from 2008-09 before taking over as Spain Under-19 manager in 2010.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He enjoyed success with the country’s youth sides, winning the 2012 Under-19 European Championship before repeating the feat as Under-21 boss 12 months later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lopetegui's forays into club management have been less successful. He was sacked from a brief spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano in Spain’s second division in 2003 and left Portuguese club Porto after failing to win any silverware from 2014-16.</p>
<p class="title">Spain coach Julen Lopetegui will take over as Real Madrid manager on a three-year contract after the World Cup, the European champions said on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Frenchman Zinedine Zidane stepped down two weeks ago, days after leading Real to a third consecutive Champions League title.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lopetegui, who last month signed a new contract through to 2020 with Spain, spent three years with Real as a player.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 51-year-old took over as Spain coach in 2016 following the retirement of Vicente Del Bosque who led his country to victory in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Spain, unbeaten in 20 games under Lopetegui, play neighbours Portugal on Friday in their opening World Cup Group B match in Sochi, Russia before facing Iran and Morocco.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former goalkeeper Lopetegui spent a season as coach of Real’s B-team Castilla from 2008-09 before taking over as Spain Under-19 manager in 2010.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He enjoyed success with the country’s youth sides, winning the 2012 Under-19 European Championship before repeating the feat as Under-21 boss 12 months later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lopetegui's forays into club management have been less successful. He was sacked from a brief spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano in Spain’s second division in 2003 and left Portuguese club Porto after failing to win any silverware from 2014-16.</p>