Spain manager Julen Lopetegui very nearly took over at Wolves in the summer
Former Porto boss was on the verge of choosing Molineux over a host of Premier League clubs before La Roja came calling
WOLVES are struggling in 19th in the Championship this season, but things could have been very different.
When it became clear that Kenny Jackett was to be sacked, now-Spain boss Julen Lopetegui was on the verge of agreeing terms with the club.
However, he says when his country came calling he had to change his plans, and Walter Zenga was hired instead.
Lopetegui told that he was already working with the Chinese consortium involved in the Wolves takeover, with a view to taking the manager's job.
He said: "When the federation called, naturally my objective became the national team, but it's true that before that [Wolves and I] had been working hand in hand for some time.
"It was very close but in the end it wasn't to be. I enjoyed the time I spent with them; there were job offers from the Premier League but their project was especially attractive.
"Wolves is a great club, where there would be significant investment and a desire to grow, to shine again."
He added that English football appealed because managers tend to be given time to build their teams.
Lopetegui said: "I'm passionate about English football; it's lived in a special way, unique. There's a culture of believing in mid and long-term projects.
Even though he admits that doesn't seem to be the case in the Championship anymore, with Zenga already having been replaced by Paul Lambert.
The former Porto boss added: "Admittedly, that's changing: the division with the most [managerial] changes in the world last season was the Championship. But there's respect, a willingness to build properly, patience.
"Then there's the fans' passion. England invented football and the culture's special. The challenge of bringing something new to English football was attractive; the chance to apply some of our culture, things I thought I could help."
Lopetegui used to manage Spain at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 level and his appointment to the senior team follows a Spanish tradition of promoting from within.
It's something that the FA seem on the verge of following by giving Gareth Southgate the England job on a permanent basis.
The Spain manager endorsed the potential appointment, saying: “You [Under-21 managers like Southgate] know what a national team coach’s job is, the environment, the culture. There are specific factors that condition your work and you understand them.
"You compete in a couple of games every two months and your ‘Champions League’ is six or seven games in the summer. You have a lot of time to prepare and very little time to have an impact.
"You have to know how to condense your message and transmit it, find a way to ensure that the little ‘pill’ you give players is the right one, the right dose. There’s something enjoyable about the fact that you’re on edge, no margin.
“There’s an institutional dimension too: you represent your [country’s] football. That’s the bit that least attracts coaches but you do it willingly.”