Real Madrid names current Spain boss Lopetegui as next manager

Champions League holder Real Madrid made a shock announcement on Tuesday, hiring current Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as the club's next manager.

Real named Lopetegui as Zinedine Zidane's successor with a statement on its website, adding that the 51-year-old tactician signed a three-year deal and is set to take control of the capital city giant after the World Cup in Russia.

Lopetegui, who's revived the Spanish national team since taking charge of the 2010 World Cup winner in July 2016, was previously linked with a move to Wolves before taking La Furia Roja's top job. Now set for another change of managerial plans, his appointment comes as a surprise after he extended his Spain contract in May.

A former 'keeper with a lone senior cap, Lopetegui played for Real between 1988 and 1991 and was in charge of the club's B team in 2008-09 before enlisting with the national team as the Under-19 coach.