Football manager Julen Lopetegui returns to work, three months following West Ham United's decision to part ways with him.

Bounce Back for Lopetegui as He Joins Qatar National Team

After a tumultuous run with West Ham that ended in his termination, Julen Lopetegui is shaking things up by accepting the Qatari national team job. The Spaniard had an underwhelmer stint with West Ham, with 7 wins and a disappointing 10 defeats in just 22 games.

Before that, he managed fellow Premier League side Wolves, following an extraordinary career trajectory in Spanish football. The Qatari FA has officially announced his appointment in a statement that reads: "Gear up for a new adventure. Welcome Lopetegui. We're hyped to embark on this journey together."

Lopetegui may be known mainly for his time as Spain's manager, a position he held until 2018 in controversial circumstances. Madrid had announced a deal to bring him on board after the tournament, leading to his sacking. Now, he'll be returning to international management, this time with a side with minimal international history.

Qatar has only participated in one World Cup - the 2022 edition, hosted amid criticism over deaths of migrant workers, LGBTQ+ rights, and bribery allegations related to their bid. Despite these challenges, they've made waves in other international competitions as the winners of the 2019 and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

As Qatar, Lopetegui faces a challenge as they are currently fourth in their World Cup qualifying group with two games left to play. While they're eliminated from direct qualification for the main tournament via the group, they're in a good position to keep their hopes alive by making the fourth round of AFC qualifying.

His first games in charge will be the two final group matches against Iran and Uzbekistan on June 5 and 10, 2025, respectively. Lopetegui was previously linked with a return to Real Sociedad but will instead be setting up base in Qatar.

Lopetegui, a former goalkeeper, has never coached or played outside of Europe throughout his long career. His best coaching success came with Sevilla, where he won the 2020 Europa League. However, West Ham fans and players won't be welcoming him back anytime soon, with his tenure there widely criticized.

West Ham legend, Tony Cotee, voiced his displeasure two days before Lopetegui's sacking on January 8, 2023, saying, "It was just a pathetic appointment. They should never have done it in the first place. It was the wrong appointment. ... Tim Steidten, David Sullivan, and the board should hang their heads in shame."

Sources:

Qatar National Team Announces Julen Lopetegui as Coach
Qatari FA Confirms Lopetegui's Deal Through 2027 Asian Cup
Lopetegui Leads Spain on Perfect Winning Streak
Fixtures for Lopetegui's First Games with Qatar National Team
Despite being sacked from West Ham, Julen Lopetegui will be returning to international management, having accepted the Qatar national team job.
Lopetegui's move to Qatar comes after a challenging stint in the Premier League, where he managed both West Ham and Wolves.
The Qatari FA announced his appointment with great enthusiasm, citing "a new adventure" and expressing excitement to work with Lopetegui.
Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, faces a challenge in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers, where they are currently fourth in their group, but have two games left to play.
Lopetegui's first games in charge will be against Iran and Uzbekistan in June 2025, but he was previously linked with a return to Real Sociedad before accepting the Qatar offer.
The former Spanish national team manager, Lopetegui, has never coached or played outside of Europe throughout his career, finding his best success with Sevilla in the Europa League.
Although West Ham fans and players are unlikely to welcome Lopetegui back, he made headlines in European leagues, especially in the Premier League, throughout his managerial career.