JULEN LOPETEGUI SIGNS A CONTRACT EXTENSION UNTIL 2024

10/01/2021

The Basque manager's contract was due to expire in June 2022. His successes in the last 19 months have been undeniable, and has the highest win percentage of any Sevilla FC manager

Sevilla FC and Julen Lopetegui have reached an agreement to extend the Basque manager's contract by two seasons, which ties him to the club until 30th June 2024.

Julen Lopetegui arrived at Sevilla FC in the summer of 2019 as the focal point of Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, Monchi's new project, after he returned from Roma. "I'm a very happy man, as a Sporting Director and a Sevillista", he stated on 5th June 2019, the day that the Basque manager was unveiled as manager. On the same day, Chairman José Castro stated that he was "absolutely convinced" to the media at that press conference.

He has had undeniable success in Nervión. He won the UEFA Europa League, qualified for the Champions League and reached the last 16 in barely a year and a half

Finally, Lopetegui made a statement of intent: "We want to help this Club be a bit bigger and that's why we've come. Now we need to speak little and work a lot so we can make Sevillistas' dreams come true", he stated. And he did. He worked hard, and made all Sevillistas' dreams come true.

19 months on from that unveiling, Julen Lopetegui has had a profound impact on the club. In his first season, he secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League with a fourth-placed finish, level on point with third-placed Atlético de Madrid. But, fundamentally, he injected Sevilla FC with greatness, and led them to a sixth UEFA Europa League triumph during an unprecedent season due to the pandemic. In the final phase, his team overcame strong opponents, both on and off the pitch, with wins over Roma, Wolves, Manchester United and Inter.

After 79 matches in charge, he has the best win percentage in Sevilla FC's history (58.2%) and has gone unbeaten in 82.27% of his matches

With Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla FC have found a recognised and recognisable leader, with a style of play that was on display from day one, and the brilliant results have made the Basque manager one of the most successful managers in the club's history. With Saturday's win against Real Sociedad, he reached 100 points in the top-flight with Sevilla FC in just 54 matches, averaging 1.89 points per match.

However, Lopetegui's numbers go much further. After last month's victory over Villarreal, his win percentage reached 57.9%, the highest in the club's history, and that percentage has now reached 58.2% after wins against Linares and Real Sociedad. Since his arrival, Sevilla FC have played 79 matches, with 46 wins, 19 draws and 14 defeats. Lopetegui has gone unbeaten in 82.27% of his matches.

Therefore, real satisfaction with the contract renewal of a manager who is already making history at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and on whom the foundations of the Sevilla FC of the future are laid.