Julen Lopetegui Returns to Spain for Father's Funeral

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has returned to Spain to attend the funeral of his father, José, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94. José Lopetegui was a champion weightlifter known for his participation in the Basque sport of stone-lifting. Despite this personal tragedy, Lopetegui is expected to return to the sideline for West Ham's Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday, with his coaching staff overseeing training in his absence. The club expressed their condolences, urging respect for Lopetegui's privacy during this difficult time. This comes as Lopetegui has been navigating a challenging start to his tenure at West Ham, recently achieving a draw and a win in their last two league games. West Ham is currently positioned 14th in the Premier League with 19 points from 16 matches.