Saints denia He stopped exercising as Spanish Sub-21 coach and Olympic after 15 years training in the different lower categories of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The technician leaves the positions to start a new professional adventure After falling eliminated in the quarterfinals of the European sub-21 against England last Saturday.
A Santi Denia that in its 15 years in the REF won the European U-17 of 2017 in Croatia and, two years later, in 2019, it reached the top with the Spanish Sub-19 team in Armenia.
At the head of the Olympic National Team gold was hung on Paris Games 2024. In addition, he got La Plata in Tokyo 2020 as second coach of Luis de la Fuente.
Santi Denia joined the RFEF in August 2010 to train Spain U-16 and in 2011 he went to the U17 team. There he remained until 2019, when he made the leap to the U19, and, at the beginning of 2023, with the rise of Luis de la Fuente to the Absolute, he took charge of Spain Sub-21, a team he has directed until the latter European Slovakia.
220 parties
In total, 220 games on the bench of the lower categories of the Spanish team: Ten with the U-15, 16 with the U-16, 105 at the head of the U-17, 14 with the Sub-28, 39 with the U-19, 30 with the Sub-21 and six with the Olympic.
Successful trajectory in the RFEF that leaves after 15 years to undertake a new professional adventure, which aims to occur in Arabic football.
A decision meditated by the technician and that He already was around his head almost a year agoas he said in an interview with EFE before the Olympic final.
“Always,” he replied on whether the curiosity to lead a club. When the time comes we will have to leave. I will not stay here all my life, I have that clear. I am closer to leave than to stay. The normal thing is that you leave; It is not a drama, it is a natural process of the selectors, ”he said in August 2024.
A goodbye of Santi Denia that occurs after falling in the quarterfinals of the European U21 against England (1-3). After the meeting, the coach showed his Emotion on the pitchwalking only in tears aware that it was time to say goodbye to the RFEF.
And in the video in which his march was announced, he left a phrase: “I have been privileged. It has been everything very nice.”
New coach
Now, with the sub-21 and Olympic coach vacancy, The RFEF will have to decide for the profile for which it is committed to starting the new cycle In September, with the European of 2027 on the horizon that will give a place for the Juo de los Ángeles 2028.
Among the options, in case of making the same decision as in 2023 to ascend to the technician of the U19, a Paco Gallardo That this Thursday the title of the European category is played against the Netherlands.
In addition, another name on the table, of greater renown for his career as a footballer and currently without bench after leaving Real Madrid Castilla after six seasons, is that of Raúl González Blanco.
