Wolves target Julen Lopetegui confirmed that he been sacked by admitting: ‘Tomorrow (Thursday) I will not be Sevilla manager.’

Lopetegui knew before the Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night that he was taking charge of his last match and he confirmed it after the 4-1 defeat.

He said he had been told of the club’s decision and said he had already said goodbye to club staff.

Julen Lopetegui was given a standing ovation by Sevilla fans on Wednesday night

Sevilla supporters gave the departing coach a standing ovation at the end of the game and called for the club’s president Pepe Castro to resign.

Lopetegui was making his way off the pitch at the final whistle but was pushed back out in front of the fans by Sevilla’s Sporting Director Monchi.

It was Monchi that hired Lopetegui just over three seasons ago and after an embrace the two walked back out on to the pitch and Lopetegui took the applause of most of the stadium.

Lopetegui may be at Stamford Bridge to watch Wolves take on Chelsea on Saturday as the club push to appoint him as their new manager.

The Spaniard is the front-runner to succeed Bruno Lage at Molineux.

Under-18 coach Steve Davis has been leading training this week along with Under-21 boss James Collins and Wolves have been planning for them to take charge at Chelsea.

But the former Real Madrid and Spain coach could also be involved. 

Jorge Sampaoli, the former Argentina and Marseille coach, was expected to accept an offer to replace Lopetegui and begin his second stint at Sevilla.

Following Lage’s sacking, intermediaries were said to have contacted Wolves officials to offer Sampaoli’s services, but Lopetegui, 56, was always top of chairman Jeff Shi’s list.

Lopetegui was Wolves owners Fosun's first choice to become manager when they took control in 2016, but instead he accepted an offer to become Spanish national coach. But Lopetegui has long been keen to move to the Premier League.

He would arrive with the club in a relegation battle. Wolves have taken only six points from their opening eight games of the campaign, scoring just three goals. 

Lage was dismissed after his side produced another toothless display last weekend, when they lost 2-0 at West Ham and the Portuguese boss was barracked by the travelling supporters.