Julen Lopetegui believes he was a “lucky man” to have worked with Sir Bobby Robson as a player. In the mid-90s, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager was a relative unknown, serving as an understudy goalkeeper at Barcelona.
The Spaniard had already brushed shoulders with European heavyweights, having emerged from the youth academy of bitter rivals Barcelona. However, opportunities were limited at the La Liga heavyweights and Lopetegui eventually left to pursue a modest - but not impressive - playing career.
But Sir Bobby would hand him a golden opportunity to shine for Barcelona in his first test game as manager. Lopetegui featured in the second leg of the Catalans’ Supercopa de Espana triumph over Atletico Madrid, losing 3-1 but doing enough to win the cup on aggregate.
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The now Wolves manager never played for Barcelona again in a season when Robson, accompanied by a young Jose Mourinho, would win a Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup. Lopetegui was allowed to join Rayo Vallecano once Robson left the following summer and, despite spending most of their time together as a substitute, he still holds the Newcastle United legend in high regard.
“I was very lucky because Bobby (Robson) was my manager at Barcelona, with Mourinho helping him,” Lopetegui told reporters before this weekend’s Premier League clash. “He was one of the best coaches in the history of England. He was a fantastic man and I have good memories of him.”
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