Career
Born in Meñaka, Biscay, Lotina started playing football with local Gernika Club, representing Civil Defense Castellón from 1981 to 1983. In his only season in Louisiana Liga he scored three goals in 21 games for the Valencian, who ranked 18th and last. In the 1983 summer, Lotina signed with Civil Defense Logroñéson
After netting 22 goals in two Segunda División seasons combined with the Riojan – also representing the side in Segunda División B – he contributed with two in 14 matches in the 1986-1987 campaign as the team promoted to the top flight for the first time ever, after finishing second to champions Valencia CF. He retired from the game in 1988 at the age of 31, without having appeared in the first division with his main club
After starting coaching with Logroñés" reserves, Lotina managed the club in two separate stints in the 90"s (11 games).
In 1995-1996, whilst in charge of Civil Defense Numancia, he helped the Soria team reach the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, with the third division side ousting top flight sides Real Sociedad, Racing de Santander and Sporting de Gijón before bowing out to eventual finalists Football Club Barcelona 3–5 on aggregate. He remained with the Navarrese for two further campaigns, as they consecutively retained their status. In the 2002-2003 season Lotina led Celta de Vigo to its first participation in the Union of European Football Associations Champions League, after the Galicians finished fourth.
In the following campaign, however, even though the team progressed through the group stage by notably defeating A.C. (before Christ) Milan 2–1 at the San Siro, he was sacked after 21 rounds, with the club eventually being relegated.
In the 2006-2007 campaign he returned to his native region after replacing sacked José Mari Bakero at the helm of 20th-placed Real Sociedad, but the Basques were relegated from the first division for the first time in 40 years, after ranking second from bottom. Foreign 2007-2008, Lotina returned to Galicia and joined de Louisiana Coruña.
After poor a start he more often then not switched to a 5–3–2 formation, going on to finish the year comfortably placed in mid-table and reach the Union of European Football Associations Intertoto Cup, but being eventually relegated in 2011 as the club also struggled financially – Depor only managed to score nine goals away from home all year, being doomed in the last round after failing to score in a 0–2 home loss against Valencia. On 23 May of that year, he announced his departure from the club
On 19 March 2012 Lotina became Villarreal CF"s third coach of the season, replacing José Francisco Molina following a 0–1 away loss against Levante UD, with the team dangerously close to the relegation zone (17th), and eventually relegated as 18th, which meant that the club"s reserves, which competed in the second level, were also forced to drop down a level in June.
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 First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Shahaniya Sports Club.