Fernando Hierro, who stood in as Spain coach when Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the World Cup, will not continue in the role, the Spanish football federation said Sunday. Under the former Real Madrid and Spain defender, who had little previous coaching experience, 2010 winners Spain lost on penalties to host nation Russia in the last 16.

"After travelling many kilometres together, the Spanish Football Federation and Fernando Hierro have put an end to their relationship," the federation said. Hierro declined to return to his previous job as the federation's technical director and "will undertake new professional challenges", the federation wrote.