Wolves and Julen Lopetegui have agreed to part ways, bringing the Spaniard’s nine-month term as head coach to an end.
The head coach and the club acknowledged and accepted their differences of opinion on key topics and decided that an amicable end to Lopetegui’s contract was the best answer for all parties.
Lopetegui joined Wolves in November and successfully led the team to Premier League safety.
Talks have been ongoing in recent weeks, with the utmost respect and cordiality, giving the club time and space to begin work on finding a successor, while also allowing Julen and his backroom staff to continue their planned preparation to ensure the playing squad is in the best possible shape for the start of the Premier League season.
Along with Lopetegui, his backroom staff of Pablo Sanz, Juan Peinado, Oscar Caro, Edu Rubio, Borja De Alba Alonso, and Daniel Lopetegui will leave the club.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “On behalf of everyone at the club I’d like to thank Julen and his staff for their dedication and hard work during their time at the football club. They were brought in with the primary aim of keeping the club in the Premier League last season, an objective which they achieved with games to spare.“While our ambition had been to move into the new season together, it is public knowledge that there were differences of opinion on some key topics, and it was agreed by all parties that it would be best to part ways ahead of the new campaign.
“After a successful pre-season, full of hard work and good performances, Julen and his staff leave the squad in great shape ahead of the season opener next week, which will give his successor the best possible platform for success.“We wish Julen and his team the very best of luck for the future, and they will always be welcome at Wolves.
”Lopetegui said: “I wish Wolves and everybody at the club the very best of luck for the future, and thank them for the opportunity granted at the time to take charge of this wonderful club.
“It has been an honour to enjoy this adventure in the day-to-day company of Matt Hobbs, Matt Wild, head of player care Lisa Hollis and every single employee of the club; whom I wish to thank for their support and help at every moment.
“Also, of course, I want to thank the players, who have always given the maximum to achieve our objectives, and especially the fans that made me feel like one of them from the very first moment and have always been amazing to me, my staff and my family.”
