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Luis Aragones agreed to stay as the head coach of the Spanish national team - the strategist will continue his work within the team until the end of the 2008 European Championship.
The 67-year-old coach thought about his future in the national team after Spain's unexpected loss to the French team in the World Cup quarterfinals and was forced to withdraw from the tournament this week.
After the meeting, the coach hinted that it would be appropriate for him to step down. Before the championship, he also said that he would step down if Spain did not reach the semifinals.
Aragones himself did not forget those words: "What I said before the championship, I would repeat in the future, but the Federation has the final word. I told them that I would step down, but they convinced me that they appreciate what I have done and want me to stay."
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) wanted to keep the experienced coach, and after thinking it over for a few days, Aragones decided to extend the contract - the new contract will be valid until the end of the 2008 European Championship.
"The Federation was satisfied with my work and that motivated me to extend the contract," Aragones said at a press conference on Friday. "I want revenge at the 2008 European Championship."
"We didn't ask him to make us champions. We want hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, and that's what we get from him. That's more important than individual results," said Jorge Perez, the Secretary-General of the Spanish Federation.
Spain started the World Cup in Group H by convincingly beating debutant Ukraine 4-0, then achieved a convincing victory against Tunisian footballers 3-1, and in the third, no longer crucial match, they defeated one of the tournament's outsiders Saudi Arabia 1-0.
Since 2004, when Luis Aragones took over as head coach from Inaki Saez, Spain's loss to the French was the only one in the last 26 matches.
