MADRID, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Julen Lopetegui has been presented as the new Real Madrid head coach on Thursday at the Presidential Box at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Lopetegui was dismissed as Spain's national team coach after Real Madrid announced he would replace Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid's coach after the World Cup.
"Yesterday was the saddest day of my life since the death of my mother," Lopetegui said, and added "but today is the happiest".
"I know I am coming to a place of great demands, and even in giving everything, you can still come up short," the coach said.
"We're going to do everything in our power to give the best account of ourselves and fight at the level that this club belongs, and even push it higher," he explained.
"I believe I am ready for this adventure and to take the wonderful squad of players we have under my wing," Lopetegui said.
Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, welcomed Lopetegui to the club and praised Lopetegui's career.
"Today you are coming back home having achieved qualification for the World Cup in Russia with the Spanish national team in fine fashion, not losing in 20 games," Perez said.
Perez explained Real Madrid's announcement of Lopetegui's signing just before the World Cup intended to "avoid it being leaked, and for transparency to prevail".
"This is a first in footballing history, that a national coach, having come to an agreement with another team, has been considered to have behaved in a disloyal manner," he said. Enditem
