Saez offers to quit after Euro 2004 exit

Spain coach Inaki Saez has tendered his resignation a day after saying he would not quit over his team's first stage exit from Euro 2004, Spanish media reported on Thursday.

Saez caved in to intense pressure, several newspapers said, after the media attacked his announcement on Tuesday that he planned to lead Spain's qualifying campaign for the next World Cup.

"Saez throws in the towel," was the headline in AS sports newspaper.

A spokesman for the Spanish soccer federation declined to comment on the reports.

A statement on their website said Saez had met the head of the federation, Angel Maria Villar, on Wednesday to "analyse the situation caused by his (Saez's) announcement...that he would lead the national team into the final phase of the 2006 World Cup".

As a result of their conversation, Villar has cancelled a news conference planned for Thursday and has called a meeting of the federation board on Friday at 1000 GMT, the statement said. A news conference will follow the board meeting.

Saez faced calls for his resignation over team selection and over-cautious tactics after Spain scored two goals in three games in Group A to finish behind qualifiers Portugal and Greece.

Despite defending himself at a heated news conference in Madrid on Tuesday, Saez was hurt by the media onslaught and offered Villar his resignation at Wednesday's meeting, several newspapers reported.

They were already speculating on Saez's replacement, with Mallorca's experienced coach Luis Aragones top of the list for most commentators.

Luis Fernandez, who helped preserve Espanyol from relegation last season but was replaced, was also among the top contenders, along with Victor Fernandez, who led Real Zaragoza to triumph in the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup and whose contract with Real Betis has ended.

There was also talk of Michel, an illustrious former Real Madrid and Spain player, taking over. It would be his first coaching job.