Early years

After starting coaching with Logroñés' reserves, Lotina managed the club in two separate stints in the 90s (12 games). In 1995–96, whilst in charge of CD Numancia, he helped the third-tier team reach the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey after ousting top-flight sides Real Sociedad, Racing de Santander and Sporting de Gijón before bowing out to eventual finalists FC Barcelona 5–3 on aggregate.^[6]

After his debut in the top division with Logroñés in the 1996–97 season, being one of five managers as they finished in 22nd and last position, Lotina's next years were spent in division two with CD Badajoz, Numancia and CA Osasuna, helping the second promote to the top flight for the first time ever in 1999^[7] and the third achieve the same feat the following year after a six-year absence. He remained with the Navarrese for two further campaigns, as they consecutively retained their status.^[8]

Celta

Lotina led RC Celta de Vigo to their first participation in the UEFA Champions League in 2002–03 as the Galicians finished fourth. The following season, however, even though the team progressed through the group stage by notably defeating A.C. Milan 2–1 at the San Siro,^[9] he was sacked after 21 rounds^[10] in an eventual relegation.^[11]

Espanyol and Real Sociedad

In 2004–05, Lotina coached RCD Espanyol^[12] to qualification to the UEFA Cup after finishing fifth. The year 2006 brought him his first football trophy, as the team won the domestic cup against Real Zaragoza (4–1) in the manager's second season.^[13] In the 2006–07 campaign, he returned to his native region after replacing the dismissed José Mari Bakero at the helm of 20th-placed Real Sociedad,^[14] but the Basques were relegated from the first division for the first time in 40 years after ranking second-bottom.^[11]

Deportivo

For 2007–08, Lotina returned to Galicia and joined Deportivo de La Coruña.^[15][16] After a poor start, he more often than not switched to a 5–3–2 formation, going on to finish the year comfortably placed in mid-table and reach the UEFA Intertoto Cup,^[17] where they won 3–1 on aggregate against Israel's Bnei Sakhnin F.C. in the final.^[18]

Having advanced into the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, Lotina guided Deportivo through the group and expressed satisfaction at being drawn in the last 32 against Aalborg Boldspilklub of Denmark.^[19] The Scandinavians won home and away, eliminating his team 6–1 on aggregate.^[20]

In March 2010, Lotina added one year to his contract that was set to expire.^[21] Depor were relegated in 2011 as the club also struggled financially; the side only managed to score nine goals away from home all year, being doomed in the last round after a 0–2 home loss against Valencia. On 23 May of that year, he announced his departure.^[22]

Villarreal

Lotina became Villarreal CF's third coach of the season on 19 March 2012, replacing José Francisco Molina following a 1–0 away defeat to Levante UD, with the team dangerously close to the relegation zone (17th),^[23] and eventually relegated as 18th, which meant that the reserves, which competed in the second tier, were also forced to drop down a level in June.^[11]

Abroad

On 21 June 2014, after a brief spell in the Cypriot First Division, Lotina was appointed head coach of newly promoted Qatar Stars League side Al-Shahania SC.^[24] Subsequently, he worked in Japan with Tokyo Verdy,^[25] Cerezo Osaka,^[26] Shimizu S-Pulse^[27] and Vissel Kobe.^[28]