Lopetegui – Neves | Porto (2014-16)
For Wolves skipper Ruben Neves, his career may not have taken its same route, had it not been for Julen Lopetegui. On the opening day of the 2014/15 campaign, the Spaniard stuck his neck out and handed the 17-year-old his debut in senior football when manager of Porto. Showing a willingness to hand youngsters an opportunity when he deemed them ready, the Spaniard wasn’t let down, as Neves scored in the 2-0 win over Maritimo and went on to feature regularly for the remainder of the campaign. Under Lopetegui, Neves broke countless records for a player of his age and went on to don the captain’s armband under his reign, making him the youngest player to start a Champions League game as captain.
When Wolves faced Lopetegui’s Sevilla in the Europa League back in 2020, Neves spoke honestly about the manager he was about to face. Neves said: “I cannot lie, it's a very special coach for me. He was the one that put me in at 17-years-old. That’s a great thing. It’s not normal in Portugal, coaches giving minutes to academy players. He’s a very special coach and I’m thankful to him because he started my career. He’s a great coach and works well. He likes to play good football with a high press.”
Lopetegui – Costa | Spain (2016-18)
Diego Costa has made 24 appearances for Spain, and ten of those came under now Wolves manager Lopetegui. The former Porto manager’s first match in charge of his national team came against Belgium and once Alvaro Morata was injured, he turned to Costa in the 27th minute and he provided the assist for the opening goal in a 2-0 win. Together, the pair helped Spain to the World Cup in Russia, with Costa hitting six goals under Lopetegui. In June 2018, Lopetegui’s final match in charge of Spain came against Tunisia, when Costa came off the bench to register another assist, this time for Iago Aspas.
Costa’s Spain career hadn’t always been plain sailing, with former boss Vicente del Bosque leaving him out of the Euro 2016 squad, but Lopetegui was a fan, especially the fiery side which some managers may not be able to embrace. In 2017, the then Spain manager said: “If you are with us, it is because we consider that your presence is important. We love you just the way you are. He has many good things and many to improve. We want him a little angry. Not a lot, but a little, yes, because he expresses this in his football as always. We love that part of Diego, and we look for it.”
Lopetegui – Jonny | Spain U19s & U20s (2012-13)
Lopetegui’s career in international management began with Spain’s under-19s, where he helped a young, up and comping defender Jonny on his route to the senior team. The now Wolves defender played ten times for Spain’s under-19s, on each occasion under the management of Lopetegui. That journey saw Spain win the Euros in 2012, with Jonny playing every minute as Lopetegui’s right-back in a side which also featured the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Gerard Deulofeu. The pair linked up again with Spain’s under-20s group soon after, but it’s their success at the Euros out in Estonia which was their biggest success together.
Speaking after lifting the trophy in 2012, Lopetegui shed some light on his approach and tactics to ensure Spain were the eventual winners. He said: “The main focus in training camps is how to open up from all of the back four; speed of ball circulation, the profile of every playing position, use of the wings, speed of movement, coaching forwards in playing with their backs to goal and linking with midfielders and the art of quickly regaining the ball after losses of possession. When your opponent operates with 11 behind the ball, even after you have scored, it presents a number of difficulties. Our opponents were well organised, physically strong and highly motivated. It’s not always easy being the team that is obliged to win.”
Lopetegui – Wolves | Wolves 0-1 Sevilla (2020)
Lopetegui’s links to Wolves stretch beyond working with current members of the squad, to facing the old gold himself. On 11th August 2020, Wolves were drawn against the Spaniard’s Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final. The old gold had enjoyed a thrilling ride to the last eight, beating established European clubs on the way, but found the end of the road against the impressive La Liga side. Sevilla had 75 per cent of the ball and dominated all attacking stats, with Ever Banega the outstanding player, taking 140 touches – no Wolves man had more than 44. Five Wolves men who faced Lopetegui that day are now under his reign – Neves, Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto, while Maximilian Kilman was an unused substitute, all of whom he’s now joining forces with.
Speaking after game, with Sevilla about to beat Manchester United and Inter Milan to lift the trophy, he said: “I think we deserved the win today. The key was to chip, chip, chip away, have patience and wait until the right moment. I am very proud of my players because we were against a very good team. We needed to have the ball and not make mistakes because they have very fast forwards. We played very well against a good team.”
