RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Confirmed: Real Madrid bid farewell to long-serving goalkeeping coach; Courtois shares heartfelt message
Changes at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho have extended beyond the players and into the coaching setup, with Luis Llopis officially bringing his long association with the club to an end.
The goalkeeping coach confirmed his departure through a message on Instagram, closing a chapter that stretches back more than two decades.
Notably, Llopis has worked with several generations of Real Madrid players and managers, becoming a familiar and highly respected figure behind the scenes.
His exit, however, is not believed to be linked to dissatisfaction with his work.
Mourinho wants to build his own technical team and has chosen to bring in Nuno Santos as his goalkeeping specialist.
As a result, Llopis is leaving despite his long-standing position within the club and the respect he commands from players and staff.
Llopis summed up his emotions in a brief farewell message, writing, “It’s been incredible to experience it and feel it. Thank you, Real Madrid.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Luis Llopis (@atezaincoach)
The reaction from Thibaut Courtois showed the relationship Llopis built with the squad.
The Belgian goalkeeper replied, “Thank you for everything, my friend,” followed by a white heart emoji.
Llopis leaves behind two decades of memories
Llopis’ connection with Real Madrid began in 2005, although his first spell with the senior team started a decade later.
He joined the first-team setup in 2015 under Zinedine Zidane and became part of the staff during an important period in the club’s recent history.
When Zidane left, Llopis moved to Real Sociedad in 2018 before returning to Madrid in 2021.
Since then, he has remained in place through different managerial changes, and that continuity says plenty about how highly Real Madrid valued his work.
Managers came and went, but Llopis continued to work with the goalkeepers because the club believed he was one of the best specialists available for the role.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Arantza Otero (@aranotero)
A goalkeeping coach naturally develops close relationships with the players he works with every day, but Llopis had been around the Real Madrid environment for so long that his connection extended throughout the dressing room.
That is why his departure is likely to be felt beyond the goalkeeping department.
Mourinho wants a new setup
Llopis’ departure is ultimately part of a bigger change rather than a judgement on his work.
Mourinho has always placed great importance on the people around him and is known for demanding a high level from every member of his coaching staff.
This time, he wants to work with a team he trusts and knows well, and Nuno Santos, who has been part of Mourinho’s staff, is set to take over the role.
For Real Madrid, it will be a change in an area that had enjoyed considerable stability.
Llopis survived several managerial transitions because of the confidence the club had in him, but a new manager arriving with his own ideas often brings changes, and Mourinho has done exactly that.
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