Iñaki Sáez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born in Bilbao, Iñaki Sáez joined Athletic Bilbao in 1962 from neighbouring Barakaldo. His early years were marred by injuries; after totaling 46 La Liga games with five goals in his first two seasons, he managed only 20 appearances over the following three. However, regaining his health allowed him to appear regularly from 1967 to 1974. During this peak period, he anchored a formidable backline featuring goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar and defenders Luis María Echeberría and Jesús Aranguren. This defensive unit helped the club win two Copa del Generalísimo trophies in 1969 and 1972–73. Sáez retired at age 31, having accumulated exactly 338 competitive matches for the club. His international career was brief but memorable; he earned three caps for Spain in a single month in 1968. Both his first and last appearances were against England during the UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying stage, resulting in two losses (1–0 in London and 2–1 in Madrid).

In Their Own Story

Sáez's transition from player to manager was immediate upon retiring at 31. He spent five years coaching Athletic Bilbao's youth sides before stepping up to the first team midway through the 1980–81 season after Helmut Senekowitsch was dismissed with only two games played. He guided the squad to a final ninth position and later returned to manage the reserves, securing promotion back to the Segunda División in 1983. His tenure with the main squad resumed in 1985–86 when he replaced Javier Clemente for the final 13 fixtures, steering Athletic to third place behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. Following four seasons managing the reserves in the second tier, he returned to the first team midway through the 1990–91 campaign, again replacing Clemente. His time ended after round 23 of the subsequent season when the team finished just two points above the relegation zone. Later, he managed Las Palmas in the third division before a brief stint at Albacete in March 1996, where his first game was a 2–0 loss to Real Madrid and the club suffered relegation via playoffs.

Reader's Guide

Fans of Spanish football should note Iñaki Sáez's significant achievements with youth national teams. In the summer of 1996, he took charge of the Spain under-21 team, leading them to victory in the UEFA European Championship two years later by defeating Greece. He also managed the under-20s, guiding them to the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999. His success extended to the senior national level when he succeeded José Antonio Camacho as manager in 2002. Sáez remained in charge until the end of Euro 2004, which ended in a group-stage exit; his record included 15 wins, six draws, and two losses across 23 matches. Following this, he returned to manage the under-21 team. His managerial honours also include winning the UEFA European Championship with Spain U19 in 2002 and securing a Summer Olympic silver medal with the Spain U23 squad in 2000.

Did You Know?

• Sáez earned exactly three caps for Spain in one month in 1968, with both his first and last games against England.
• He retired at age 31 after appearing in precisely 338 competitive matches for Athletic Bilbao.
• As manager of the Spain under-21 team, he won the UEFA European Championship in 1998 by defeating Greece.
• His first game as Albacete manager was a 2–0 away loss to Real Madrid in March 1996.
• He managed the Spain senior team at Euro 2004, recording 15 wins and two losses in 23 matches.