Real Madrid sacks manager Julen Lopetegui after defeat to Barcelona

Real Madrid have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after just four months in charge of the Spanish club.

His dismissal comes just a day after Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 5 – 1 defeat in El Clasico clash against Barcelona.

Solari moves up from the Castilla side, as did Zinedine Zidane did three years ago when replacing Rafa Benitez.

It is a decision that has been taken to pull the club out of a crisis that has rarely been experienced at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Florentino didn’t hesitate after giving Lopetegui a week to turn things around.Madrid beat Viktoria Plzen at home but failed miserably in the visit to a club without Messi on Sunday.

An official statement from the club reads;

The Board of Directors of Real Madrid C. F., meeting today October 29, 2018, have agreed to terminate the contract that linked coach Julen Lopetegui with the club.

This decision, adopted from the highest level of responsibility, aims to change the dynamics of the first team, while all the objectives of this season are still achievable.

The Board of Directors understands that there is a great disproportion between the quality of the staff of Real Madrid, which has eight players nominated for the next Ballon d’Or, something unprecedented in the history of the club, and the results obtained to date.

The club thanks Julen Lopetegui and his entire technical team for their effort and work and wishes them the best in their professional career.He will be provisionally replaced by Santiago Solari, who will lead the first team starting tomorrow, Tuesday.