Iñaki Sáez
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Ignacio Sáez Ruiz | ||
| Date of birth | 23 April 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Bilbao, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1958–1961 | San Vicente | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1961–1962 | Barakaldo | ||
| 1962–1974 | Athletic Bilbao | 263 | (7) |
| National team | |||
| 1968 | Spain | 3 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1974–1978 | Athletic Bilbao (youth) | ||
| 1978–1979 | Bilbao Athletic | ||
| 1980–1981 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| 1982–1983 | Bilbao Athletic | ||
| 1986 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| 1987–1991 | Bilbao Athletic | ||
| 1991–1992 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| 1993–1994 | Las Palmas | ||
| 1995 | Las Palmas | ||
| 1996 | Albacete | ||
| 1996–2001 | Spain U18 | ||
| 1996–2002 | Spain U21 | ||
| 1997–2001 | Spain U20 | ||
| 2000 | Spain U23 | ||
| 2001–2002 | Spain U19 | ||
| 2002–2004 | Spain | ||
| 2004–2008 | Spain U21 | ||
| 2005 | Spain U20 | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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José Ignacio "Iñaki" Sáez Ruiz (born 23 April 1943) is a Spanish retired football defender and manager.
The vast majority of his professional career was spent with Athletic Bilbao, which he later also coached in various levels, appearing in more than 300 official games with his main club.
In addition to two other clubs (other than Athletic), Sáez managed the Spanish national team during two years, being in charge at Euro 2004.
Born in Bilbao, Basque Country, Sáez joined local giants Athletic Bilbao in 1962, from neighbouring Barakaldo CF. He totalled 46 La Liga games – with five goals – in his first two seasons combined, but appeared in only 20 in the following three combined, due to injuries.
Again healthy, Sáez appeared regularly for Athletic from 1967–74, helping the Lions to two Copa del Rey trophies, and retired at the age of 31, having appeared in nearly 350 official games for the club. He was part of a legendary defense that also featured José Ángel Iribar in goal, Luis María Echeberría and Jesús Aranguren.
Sáez gained three caps for Spain in one month in 1968, his first and his last appearance being against the same opponent, England, in two losses for the UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying stage (0–1 in London, 1–2 in Madrid).
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