Coach of the Spain’s under-21 side, Inaki Saez, has been offered the chance to succeed Jose Antonio Camacho, who resigned as coach of the national side earlier this week.

“I hope I last a long time and that I am successful,” declared Saez.

“I’ve always dreamed about this and now it’s a reality.”

“The Spain officials have told me I’m the ideal man and that they want me to lead the team until Euro 2004 in Portugal,” he added.

“Now all I need is for the board to give the green light on July11.

“I was surprised they decided on me. If I had been told yesterday (Tuesday) I wouldn’t have believed it.

“But I didn’t do badly with the youth teams and they wanted to give me a chance. I was also surprised that Camacho left but he is somebody who thinks things over.

“The players will have to think about it but I was always an option. The important thing is the people who have appointed me, who know me well.

“It hasn’t been hard to decide as the reasons they want me are logical. I’m an insider and I know how Spanish football works.”

Spain were knocked out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing on penalties to South Korea.