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Major Julen Lopetegui update from West Ham highlights the true measure of the man
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been hit by personal tragedy with the death of his father ahead of the game against Brighton.
West Ham welcome Brighton to east London in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Seagulls have been a bogey team for the Hammers since their promotion to the top flight.
It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for West Ham and their manager Julen Lopetegui.
Michail Antonio’s car crash rocked the club 11 days ago.
That was followed by tragic news that Academy Under 15s goalkeeper Oscar Fairs lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
The great and good of the football world have rallied around West Ham.
Results against Wolves and Bournemouth have kept Lopetegui at the Hammers helm amid intense speculation over his future.
Now the club’s preparations for the London Stadium clash with Brighton have been put into perspective.
It is another dark day for West Ham after the death of Lopetegui’s father was confirmed
A famous strongman in his homeland, Jose Antonio was the West Ham manager’s idol and hero.
So his death, as you would expect when anyone loses a parent regardless of their age, will have hit Lopetegui hard.
Confirming the sad news to Hammers News, the club stated it did not know whether the manager would be in the dugout for West Ham’s game against Brighton.
That would be totally understandable of course.
Especially as funerals in Spain are traditionally held within 24-48 hours.
Lopetegui’s assistant Pablo Sanz would be primed to step in and lead the side, as he did when Lopetegui received a touchline ban recently.
But now a major Lopetegui update from West Ham highlights the true measure of the man.
