Young stars in safe hands
Tuesday 27 February 2007
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When the 6th UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup kicks off at the Miniestadi in Barcelona this evening, five of the most successful youth coaches of recent times will be pitting their wits against each other.
Illustrious careers
The European All-Star squad will be guided by the Spanish trio of Iñaki Sáez, Juan Santisteban and Ginés Meléndez, who will be in opposition to Africa's head coach Frederick Osam-Doudu of Ghana and his Egyptian assistant Shawki Gharib Baioumi. All have tasted glory at youth level over the years, although it is Meléndez who has triumphed most recently, leading Spain to victory at last summer's UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Poland.
Sáez successes
That was the last in a long list of Spanish youth successes, and it is little surprise that Sáez, Meléndez and Santisteban have had significant roles in a number of those wins. After a long career with Athletic Club Bilbao incorporating two Copa del Rey victories and three caps for Spain, Sáez moved into coaching with the Bilbao outfit, before accepting a post within the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in 1996. He enjoyed considerable dominance with his country's junior selections at world and European level prior to his appointment as national coach in July 2002, then steered Spain to UEFA EURO 2004™ before taking charge of the Under-21s again later that year.
European Cup glory
Santisteban's playing days were even more glorious as he collected four European Champion Clubs' Cup winner's medals with Real Madrid CF in the 1950s. His coaching experience began with Madrid's youth sides in 1970 before he became the club's assistant coach for 16 years. Since joining the RFEF in 1988, he has lifted seven youth titles and brought through the likes of Iker Casillas, Ivan de la Peña and Joseba Etxeberría. In August 2001, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to football, Santisteban received the Special UEFA President's Award at a gala in Monaco.
Vast experience
Meléndez dedicated his career to Albacete Balompié, where he worked for 18 years in the youth set-up before arriving at the RFEF five years ago. In 2003 he was Santisteban's assistant as Spain's U17s finished runners-up in the European Championship and FIFA World Cup, before directing the U20s to their own World Cup final. He was again alongside Santisteban when Spain reached the 2004 European U17 Championship final and was part of the coaching staff when the U19s were crowned continental kings later that year, before taking over the U19s in 2004 and leading them to glory in 2006.
Nations Cup triumph
The African trainers also boast impressive CVs, with both having had spells at the helm of their national sides. Osam-Duodu ushered Ghana to glory at the 1978 African Cup of Nations, and has been involved in more moments of eminence at youth level: he masterminded Ghana's victory in the 1991 U17 World Cup, took the U20 squad to the gold medal in their CAF African Championship two years later, then guided them to that season's U20 World Cup final. Gharib Baioumi held the reins of Egypt's senior side in 2005 although his happiest time was 2001, when as coach of the U20 team he achieved third place in their African Championship and repeated the feat at the World Cup.
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