TheCable

Former Real Madrid player Fernando Hierro has been appointed as the new coach of the Spanish national team.

Hierro was on Wednesday named as the replacement for sacked Julen Lopetegui.

Lopetegui was sensationally axed just 24 hours after it was announced that he would take over at Real Madrid when the World Cup ends.

Hierro, a former Real Madrid and Bolton player, will be in the dugout on Friday when Spain open their Group B campaign against Portugal.

The 50-year-old spent 14 years in Real Madrid, before playing in Saudi Arabia and England.

Until his appointment, he was the sporting director of Spain.

He has a year of managerial experience with Oviedo.