Julen Lopetegui unveiled as new Real Madrid manager

Julen Lopetegui insists his conscience is clear after being sacked by Spain on the eve of the World Cup.

Lopetegui, who led La Roja on a 20-match unbeaten run, was unveiled as the new coach of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday evening.

It came after a whirlwind 48 hours, with Spain FA chief Luis Rubiales accusing the 51-year-old of subterfuge after the European champions made public that he would be replacing Zinedine Zidane.

“Yesterday, after the death of my mother, was the saddest of my life,” said Lopetegui. “But today is the happiest day of my life.

“Loyalty is telling the truth. When there was something to know, he [Rubiales] was the first person to know.

“I wanted to give the press conference that same day but he was far away so I had to wait for him. Then what happened during those hours, I don’t know.

“We just wanted to be honest with everyone, to make the agreement public. hiding it would have been bad.”