After being sacked by Spain for agreeing to move to Madrid after the World Cup, the 52-year-old is now facing the chop at the Santiago Bernabeu
Some say he’s a dead man walking already, but if Julen Lopetegui can steer Real Madrid to victory at Camp Nou in Sunday’s Clasico, the Spanish coach maybe – just maybe – could keep his job.
A dire start to the season, including an abysmal eight-hour goal drought, has seen Lopetegui backed into a corner and he must fight his way out on the biggest stage of all, club football’s greatest game.