With Wolves stuck in the Premier League relegation zone, efforts to sign Lopetegui were resurrected. Davis, the under-18s coach for Wolves, took temporary charge of the first team after Lage was fired at the beginning of last month, with help from James Collins and goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts. Wolves have only won one game since Lage left, against Nottingham Forest, and their only other point under Davis came from last week’s 1-1 draw at Brentford. Chairman Jeff Shi publicly backed caretaker boss Davis in his role as first-team manager until the end of the season.
Wolves’ lengthy managerial hunt concludes as Julen Lopetegui appointed successor to Bruno Lage at Molineux; Lopetegui was sacked by Sevilla in October; Wolves approached Lopetegui last month but the Spaniard rejected the move due to personal reasons
Lopetegui succeeds Bruno Lage, who was sacked on October 2 after winning just one of his final 15 games in charge.
He will begin work on November 14 when he officially takes charge at Molineux after Wolves’ final Premier League game before the World Cup against Arsenal.
Steve Davis remains in interim charge ahead of Saturday’s home match against Brighton.
Davis said: “It’s a top appointment and someone who we’ve been trying to get in for a while now. I’m just pleased that they’ve managed to get the person they wanted a while ago.
He’ll arrive here at the end of next week. He’s a great appointment and he’s somebody the club needs going forward.”
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: “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.
Lopetegui was sacked by Sevilla at the start of October, two years after guiding the La Liga club to a record sixth Europa League crown in 2020.
Wolves approached Lopetegui last month but the 56-year-old Spaniard rejected the move due to personal reasons, forcing the Midlands club to explore alternative targets.
Queens Park Rangers boss Michael Beale appeared on the verge of filling the vacant manager’s position at Molineux until his last-minute commitment to the Championship club sent Wolves back to the drawing bo
ard.
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