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Julen Lopetegui has a point to prove at West Ham

Julen Lopetegui has a point to prove at West Ham

The most iconic picture of West Ham's new coach Julen Lopetegui is not of him lifting the Europa League trophy with Sevilla, or even wearing the goalkeeping jerseys of Real Madrid or Barcelona (he played for both teams). With the Spain National team he was a victim of the whims of the since disgraced president Luis Rubiales. Then at Real Madrid he fell foul of the club's notorious impatience. But there was little crying over the episodes and his father would not have it any other way. 'He was very recognised in stone-lifting in an era when it was much bigger than it is now and you could make a living from it,' Lopetegui says. 'He was a great athlete in various sports but he didn't play football.