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Real Madrid have appointed Spain’s Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach just two days before the start of the World Cup — and two years after he nearly became Wolves boss.

Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp were the early targets of the Champions League winners following the shock resignation of Zinedine Zidane.

But the Spanish giants have announced that former goalkeeper Lopetegui will be the safe pair of hands to take over after the World Cup on a three-year deal.

Real Madrid will pay the Spanish FA €2million (£1.75m) in compensation – a lot less than buying a Premier League boss out of his contract. And the deal has been completed much quicker.

The 51-year-old Lopetegui only extended his contract until 2020 last month after going undefeated in two years and 20 games as Spain boss.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP/Getty)

The impact of the timing of the surprise announcement will be seen on Friday night, when Spain take on European champions Portugal in the crunch opening game of Group B. The 2010 World Cup winners will also face Iran and Morocco in the group stages.

One of his first tasks at Real Madrid will be to convince Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at the Bernebeu next season – and maybe persuade Spain keeper David de Gea to finally join.

Lopetegui played one match for the Real first team – and also played for Barcelona – before returning to the Spanish capital as a scout and then coach of feeder team Castilla before taking charge of Spain’s youth teams.

He spent two years at Porto until he was sacked and he was the Fosun Group’s first choice to take over at Molineux after buying Wolves in July 2016, before Spain offered him the job.

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

Real Madrid players in Spain's World Cup squad Sergio Ramos

Dani Carvajal

Nacho

Isco

Lucas Vasquez

Marco Asensio

Jesus Vallejo

Lopetegui later admitted: “Wolves is a great club. It was very close but in the end it wasn’t to be.”

Zidane has been linked with taking over the Qatar job before the Gulf nation hosts the 2022 World Cup.

But the Frenchman, speaking in Paris on Tuesday, said: “Right now, I am taking a break.

“I do not know what I will do after, because at the moment the most important thing was the decision that I took. The future? We will see.”