Sáez ready for 'new chapter'

After leading Spain to glory in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship on Sunday, Iñaki Sáez will now start a new chapter in his footballing career - leading the full Spanish national team.

Perfect farewell
His Under-19 side's 1-0 victory against Germany on Sunday night was, as the 59-year-old from Bilbao admitted, the perfect way to bow out. "You can always play better," he told uefa.com after the game at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo. "But my team played very, very well today. Honestly they have done everything I asked them to do at this tournament."

Tough challenge
Sáez admitted that overcoming Germany had been a tough challenge. "Germany are a team that know what to do with the ball," he said. "But we had four chances in the first half and the goal came in the second half."

New chapter
As for his new role as coach Spain, Sáez was philosophical. "At this moment I have completed this chapter in my life and now something totally different is waiting for me," he said. "What is going to happen now is totally different."

'Superb behaviour'
Meanwhile, Sáez's German counterpart, Ulrich Stielike, paid tribute to his own players, who were so valiant in defeat. "I went to see the boys after the game and told them that they represented German football very well in this tournament," he said. "Their behaviour on the pitch and off the pitch was superb."

Spain 'a better team'
Stielike also took time to praise the victors. "A loss is always painful, but although we had our chances we must admit that we lost against a better team that makes it a little less painful," he said.