Sáez back at U21 helm
Monday, August 2, 2004
Article summary
Former Spain coach Iñaki Sáez is to return to his old role in charge of the country's Under-21 side.
Article body
Youth success
The Basque-born trainer had been in charge of Bilbao Athletic, his hometown club's reserve team before being enlisted as a youth coach by the Spanish Football Federation in 1996. His successful spell at the helm of Spain's junior sides included victories in the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, 2000 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Senior spell
After the latter triumph he took charge of Spain's senior team, leading them to qualification for UEFA EURO 2004™, but stepped down in June after their elimination in the group stage. The 61-year-old's first match back with the U21s will be a friendly against Venezuela in Las Palmas in a fortnight.
2006 bid
Their bid to reach the 2006 European U21 Championship then begins on 7 September away to Group 7 rivals Bosnia-Herzegovina. Spain failed to reach the 2004 finals after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Sweden in the play-offs.
