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Spain Hires Former Barcelona Manager Luis Enrique

Spain appointed former Barcelona Manager Luis Enrique as its coach to replace Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Monday, according to Adriana Garcia of ESPN.com. Enrique "has been on a sabbatical" since leaving Barcelona in May '17 and was a "reported target" of Paris St. Germain and Chelsea in April. The RFEF's exec committee met on Monday and unanimously approved Enrique's two-year contract "just eight days after" the national team, under caretaker Manager Fernando Hierro, was eliminated on penalties by Russia. RFEF President Luis Rubiales said, "There's a total agreement. He's had bigger offers but he wanted to be national team coach and I want to highlight the sacrifice he has made. ... We didn't speak to anyone else, we only spoke to Luis Enrique. He was our first choice, he fits in perfectly with what we want." Spain, which won "back-to-back European titles" (2008, 2012) and the 2010 World Cup, is "hoping to open a new successful chapter under Enrique after three consecutive disappointing tournaments" (ESPN.com, 7/9). The BBC reported Hierro, who was sporting director before replacing Lopetegui as coach of this year's World Cup, "is not returning to his role" (BBC, 7/9). REUTERS' Jesús Aguado reported the RFEF appointed José Francisco Molina as its new sporting director. Molina is a former Spanish national goalkeeper who also played for Atlético Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña (REUTERS, 7/9).

MAKING IT OFFICIAL: REUTERS' Richard Martin reported the RFEF announced the Supercopa match between Barcelona and Sevilla "will be contested over one match at a neutral venue" on Aug. 12 rather than the "traditional two-leg home and away format." Rubiales said that he "hopes the game will take place" in Tangier, Morocco, subject to approval from FIFA. He added that both clubs "would be given financial compensation to account for revenue losses over not playing at their home stadium." The move "is likely to anger Sevilla, however," which released a statement on its official Twitter account on Sunday declaring its "opposition to playing the competition in one game" (REUTERS, 7/9).

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