Santisteban leads Spain again

Youth tournaments, naturally, are rarely the same from year to year but in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship there is one constant - that Juan Santisteban will lead a talented Spain side to the finals.

'Tough group'
Having finished third last year and indeed failed to qualify just once at U16 and then U17 level since taking the role in 1988/89, Real Madrid CF legend Santisteban is back again in Belgium and ready for tussles with France, Germany and Ukraine in Group A. "It's a very tough group," Santisteban told uefa.com.

Risks
In particular, he emphasises that Ukraine will not be outsiders. "We won't be fooled. If they've got this far it's because they have a significant team. We will have to be very careful. At this age kids give you something nice followed by something less pleasant - one Sunday they can dazzle you and when you're most confident they disappoint you."

Disappointment
One day of disappointment that remains is the 2004 final against France, when Spain lost in the last minute. "We're always left with that bittersweet taste after losing and more so when we lost like we did," Santisteban said. "But football is like that."

Bojan talent
Last season Spain were again tipped for success but suffered a surprise 2-0 semi-final defeat against the Czech Republic. However, a star was born in that tournament as FC Barcelona forward Bojan Krkić, then just 15, finished as joint top scorer, getting all his five goals as substitute, and he is back for more in Belgium having this week struck in his senior club debut in a 4-0 friendly win against Al-Ahly in Cairo. "I'm an old dog in this and I've met lots of players and I can guarantee that I've never seen a player like Bojan Krkić in my life that at the age of 16 or 17 - he is so talented," Santisteban said. "He has an incredible nose for goal, he's skilful and above all, he's a likable person with a permanent smile on his face. That's the most important thing for me. He deserves to be watched and if he avoids injury he will be a star of the future."

Moving up
Which raises an important point for Santisteban, who also marks out Arsenal FC's Fran Mérida and Villarreal CF's Jordi Pablo as other key talents in the squad: why can Spain, who are also European U19 champions, not repeat that success at senior level? "I've been asked lots of times and I can't find an explanation," the 70-year-old said. "There are several factors: the responsibility is greater, the opposition are vastly superior, the physical strength... When you become a professional everything changes from U19 or U20 level."

Yough coaching
Perhaps that is why Santisteban, who estimates that 90 per cent of the current senior squad came through his ranks, enjoys youth coaching. "We can work with children, not with men, and they haven't been contaminated by everything that goes on in professional football: agents, scouts, family...," he said.