Santisteban promises to attack

Coaching career
Four times a European Champions' Club Cup winner with Real Madrid CF, Santisteban also starred for AC Venezia, Real Betis Balompié and the Baltimore Bays in the United States. Santisteban's coaching career began with the youth sides of his beloved Real Madrid in 1970, before he became assistant coach at the club, a post he held for 16 years.

Lifetime contribution
Since joining the Spanish national association in 1988, Santisteban has won seven youth competition titles. What is more, the players he has brought through at youth levels have gone on to win further honours, including the likes of Iker Casillas, Ivan de la Peña and Joseba Etxeberría. It is no wonder then that in August 2001, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to football, Santisteban received the Special UEFA President's Award at the gala in Monaco.

As his side prepared to face Austria in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, uefa.com caught up with him.

uefa.com: What was your assessment of your country's final Group B game against England?

Juan Santisteban: It was a very good match - a game with two very different halves. In the first half Spain were really strong and in the second half England became really good and surprised us with the way they played. It was a fair result.

uefa.com: Could you give us your opinion of your semi-final opponents Austria?

Santisteban: I really don't know the Austrian team, but I remember a final six years ago in Germany between Spain and Austria [the final of the U16 European championship in 1997] - it ended in a draw, it was a very difficult game, very close. In the end it went to penalties and Spain won but it was very hard.

uefa.com: What have your players learnt from taking part in this tournament?

Santisteban: The players always learn a lot from tournaments like this. They can see what happens around them and get a picture of tournament life.

uefa.com: What will your side's preparation for the semi-finals consist of?

Santisteban: We are going to practice every aspect of our game before the Austria match, both mental and physical. I really like the players to practice the technical parts of their game – it's very important for them to work with the ball, rather than the other way around. They have to work well but also be mentally ready as the game is tomorrow.

uefa.com: Do you do much physical training between games?

Santisteban: It's very important to work hard but as the players are young it is not necessary to work too much as there are so many matches in this tournament.

uefa.com: At this level of football are results more important than development or vice-versa?

Santisteban: The players are not yet professionals - they are still children, so I want them to develop as people. It's good to win but I prefer the youngsters to grow and develop.

uefa.com: Spain are renowned for their attacking prowess, while Austria have an excellent defence. Will the battle between these two elements decide the outcome of the game?

Santisteban: It's very difficult to say. I'll watch the video of the last game between Austria and Denmark. We Spanish are always attacking though and always think along attacking lines. If the Austria team attacks then we will also have to defend, so it depends on the game. It's difficult to know what will happen.

uefa.com: In all your time as a coach in youth football what has given you the most satisfaction?

Santisteban: I'm very proud of having had players who go on to play for and be successful for big clubs like Real Madrid [CF] and [FC] Barcelona. It makes me very proud indeed.

uefa.com: You have enjoyed so much success over the years in youth football – what is the secret of your success?

Santisteban: There's no secret! It's just luck and the players.