Premier League strugglers Wolves have lastly obtained their man, appointing “number one choice” the previous Sevilla and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as their new supervisor on Saturday. “The vastly experienced Spaniard, who has worked in coaching and management for nearly 20 years, will begin his first Premier League role on Monday 14th November,” a membership assertion confirmed. The 56-year-old replaces Bruno Lage who was sacked final month after a run of 1 win in 15 Premier League matches, going again to final season.

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi mentioned: “Julen is a top coach, with excellent experience at an elite level of the game, and we are very pleased to have agreed a deal to bring him to Wolves.

“Since the very starting, Julen has been our primary option to handle Wolves, and we stay up for welcoming him and his crew once they be part of us within the coming weeks.”

Wolves, languishing one off the foot of the table, are currently under the care of interim manager Steve Davis.

He was expected to remain in temporary charge until the new year after QPR manager Michael Beale rejected the chance to move to Molineux.

Lopetegui had also initially snubbed an approach for personal reasons, before changing his mind.

He was national coach for two years but was abruptly let go on the eve of the 2018 World Cup for accepting to take over at Real Madrid once Spain’s interest in the tournament was over.

The Real Madrid post did not work out well as he lasted just 138 days in the job, the end coming after a chastening 5-1 Clasico defeat by Barcelona.

Lopetegui was most recently sacked after a three-year spell with Sevilla in October, the axe falling after a 4-1 home thrashing by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

A former goalkeeper — Lopetegui played for Real Madrid and Barcelona and won one cap for Spain — he had arrived in June 2019 and took the Andalusian side to a record sixth Europa League title in his first season.

Wolves will be hoping he can bring some of that magic to Molineux, with the Chinese-owned midlands club hosting Brighton later Saturday with a meagre record of two wins from 13 outings this term leaving them on 10 points, one ahead of bottom-side Nottingham Forest.

Three familiar faces await him at his new workplace.

Wolves captain Ruben Neves got his senior football debut as a raw 17-year-old when Lopetegui was manager of Porto in 2014; forward Diego Costa helped Spain to the 2018 World Cup under Lopetegui, who as Spain’s under-19 boss also gave Wolves’ defender Jonny his first opportunities on the international stage.

Lopetegui is expected to take charge of his first match for his new club against Everton, when the Premier League returns after the World Cup for its traditional Boxing Day programme on December 26.

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The club statement confirmed: “Subject to being granted work permits, Lopetegui and his crew will take over at Molineux following the membership’s Premier League fixture in opposition to Arsenal, giving him the World Cup interval to arrange for his first recreation in control of Wolves in late December.”

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