Spain coach to quit after Euro 2008
MADRID, Spain (AP) - Spain coach Luis Aragones said he intends to step down after next year's European Championship.
Aragones revealed his decision after Spain qualified for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland by beating Sweden 3-0 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday.
"I have an expiry date and you all know that. It's like milk. When it goes off you don't drink it," the 69-year-old Aragones said.
Aragones, who took charge of the national team in 2004, has endured a rocky relationship with the country's media and has reportedly come close on several occasions to resigning during his tenure, particularly after the team's early elimination from last year's World Cup.
He raised a storm soon after his appointment when he made a racist remark about Arsenal striker Thierry Henry during a training session. He was fined €3,000 (then US$3,760) by Spain's soccer federation.
Aragones began his coaching career in 1975 at Atletico Madrid, where he played, leading the club to the world club championship title in his first season and the Spanish league title two years later.
As well as undertaking three more spells at Atletico, Aragones was in charge of seven more clubs - including FC Barcelona and Valencia - for a total of 757 Spanish league games.
FOX Sports
Here is another article on it from uefa.com. Discuss?
Aragones revealed his decision after Spain qualified for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland by beating Sweden 3-0 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday.
"I have an expiry date and you all know that. It's like milk. When it goes off you don't drink it," the 69-year-old Aragones said.
Aragones, who took charge of the national team in 2004, has endured a rocky relationship with the country's media and has reportedly come close on several occasions to resigning during his tenure, particularly after the team's early elimination from last year's World Cup.
He raised a storm soon after his appointment when he made a racist remark about Arsenal striker Thierry Henry during a training session. He was fined €3,000 (then US$3,760) by Spain's soccer federation.
Aragones began his coaching career in 1975 at Atletico Madrid, where he played, leading the club to the world club championship title in his first season and the Spanish league title two years later.
As well as undertaking three more spells at Atletico, Aragones was in charge of seven more clubs - including FC Barcelona and Valencia - for a total of 757 Spanish league games.
FOX Sports
Here is another article on it from uefa.com. Discuss?