Spain coach Camacho steps down
Tuesday, July 2, 2002
Article summary
José Antonio Camacho has stepped down as Spain coach after their 2002 FIFA World Cup experience.
Article body
José Antonio Camacho has stepped down as Spain coach after his side failed to advance beyond the quarter-finals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Offered to resign
Camacho yesterday offered his resignation to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) at a meeting in Madrid. The Murcia-born coach left the meeting without comment and the RFEF today confirmed it had accepted Camacho's offer.
'Don't want to wait'
Camacho, who was contracted until 2004, will be replaced on a temporary basis by Iñaki Sáez, the coach of the country's under-21 side. The departing coach said at a press conference today: "Even though I had an option to renew my contract, I am 47 years old and I don't want to wait two years for the [UEFA] European Championship and another four years for the World Cup.
'The best solution'
"I think that it is the best solution for everybody. It is the best one for the Federation, becasue they can give the new coach a platform to build on and it is best for me because I cannot work with so many people doubting my work."
Defeat by Korea
Spain won all three of their matches in the group stage in Korea/Japan before defeating the Republic of Ireland on penalties in round two. Their World Cup bid came to an end when they were defeated in a shoot-out in the last eight by the Korean Republic.
Tough-tackling defender
Camacho made his name as a tough-tackling left-sided defender for Real Madrid CF. He made 414 appearances during his 16 years in the capital, scoring nine goals before retiring in 1989. Camacho won two UEFA Cups and played in the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1981, in addition to being capped 81 times by Spain.
Coaching credentials
Camacho's coaching career saw him take charge of Rayo Vallecano in 1990 before moving on to RCD Espanyol in 1993. He took the Barcelona-based club into the UEFA Cup before moving on to Sevilla FC in 1997. Camacho was appointed as coach of Madrid in 1998 but resigned after just 22 days.
Crucial Penalty miss
He was also in charge of Spain at EURO 2000™ where they were eliminated 2-1 by eventual winners France in the quarter-finals after Raúl González missed a penalty in the final minute of normal time.
EURO 2004™ qualifying
The Spanish will be looking to better that showing at EURO 2004™ but first they will have to appoint a new coach and negotiate a qualifying section containing Ukraine, Greece, Northern Ireland and Armenia.
