Julen Lopetegui will return to West Ham today after flying to Spain following the death of his father and he will clearly need support.
West Ham’s preparations for the Premier League clash with Brighton were hit by the sad news for Julen Lopetegui and his family from Spain.
It was another dark day for West Ham as the death of Lopetegui’s father was confirmed.
The Hammers boss flew home to be with his family after receiving the news.
His dad, Jose Antonio Lopetegui, was 94 and had been ill for some time.
So while he has been dealing with the immense pressure of his job being on the line at West Ham and all the talk of unrest and bust-ups, the Spaniard has been suffering in his personal life.
A famous strongman in his homeland, Jose Antonio was the West Ham manager’s idol and hero.
His death, as is the case when anyone loses a parent regardless of their age, will have hit Lopetegui hard.
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And make no mistake that will be the case.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United looks on ahead of the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at...
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Spanish giants reach out to West Ham boss
West Ham fans, regardless of their stance on Lopetegui as a manager, will rally around the boss.
Knowing Lopetegui was putting the Hammers first when he would have been well within his rights to go back to Spain and be with his dying father shows the measure of the man.
To then come back from Spain to lead the team against Brighton, which he intends to do today, deserves special recognition.
If you don’t think Lopetegui is a top manager, he has at least proved he is a top man.
Confirming the sad news to Hammers News, the club initially stated it did not know whether the manager would be in the dugout for West Ham’s game against Brighton.
That would have been totally understandable of course.
Especially as funerals in Spain are traditionally held within 24-48 hours.
Lopetegui’s assistant Pablo Sanz would have been primed to step in and lead the side, as he did when the Hammers boss received a touchline ban recently. West Ham lost that game 5-2, though.
He is putting West Ham first as he returns to get back to work and it’s admirable.
The 58-year-old will need his players to step up and respond with the same kind of attitude and commitment because he will be raw and hurting.
Now Spanish giants have reached out to the West Ham boss as heartbreaking Lopetegui footage remerges.
Manager Julen Lopetegui of West Ham United gestures during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Lo...
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
As West Ham have been reminded over the last couple of weeks, there are more important things in life than football.
It has been a difficult few weeks for the football club.
Lopetegui’s former side Sevilla know just how much his dad meant to him.
They sent a special message to the Hammers boss on social media which showed pure class.
“We would like to express our deepest condolences to Julen Lopetegui and the family following the death of his father,” Sevilla said.
“R.I.P.”
It comes after footage re-emerged of Lopetegui in tears over his dad during his time at Sevilla.
Lopetegui senior is remembered for having moved his son on more than one occasion during his spell as Sevilla boss.
None more so than when Lopetegui was gearing up for Sevilla’s Europa League final against Inter Milan.
While being interview by the press, it was arranged to have a special audio message from Lopetegui’s father played to him.
The video below shows his reaction. You can see just how much his dad meant to him as he is moved to tears the moment he hears his voice.
Lopetegui has earned West Ham’s full support for Brighton game
The West Ham boss struggles to hold it together as his father wishes him luck for the final.
When Sevilla returned victorious after beating Inter 3-2, the embrace he shared with his dad on his return to Spain is remembered fondly by fans.
It was described in Lopetegui’s homeland as ‘a hug that spoke a thousand words’.
Much like David Moyes’ moment with his own father following West Ham’s Conference League triumph.
Watching the video, one thing is perfectly clear; the manager will be in great pain right now and he will need the full support of the fans and players this weekend.
Whatever some of his players think of the man or fan views on his situation, this weekend he has earned everyone’s full backing.
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