After a spell in charge of Spain under-21 he moved abroad, managing the national sides of Saudi Arabia and Oman and winning promotion from China League One with two clubs.

He then became manager of Mallorca B, and officially coached the first team in the UEFA Intertoto Cup against Romania's CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț in July 2000 (4–3 aggregate loss); the reserves contested this fixture as Luis Aragonés' side had not yet commenced pre-season.

[2] He was promoted to the main squad in December of that year following the sacking of Vanderlei Luxemburgo, and his first game was a 2–1 away loss against Olympiacos in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

[3] After leaving the Santiago Bernabéu in June 2006, López Caro was appointed at fellow top-flight club Racing Santander for a salary of €650,000 that would rise to €900,000 should the team avoid relegation.

[12] In June 2010, López Caro moved abroad for the first time to Liga I's Vaslui,[13] on a three-year deal for a total €3.5 million salary subject to bonuses, therefore becoming the best paid coach in the competition's history.