Name: José Ignacio Sáez Ruiz
Country:
SpainClub: Athletic Bilbao
Position: *SB
Side: RF/RS
Age: 26-30 years (23/04/1943)
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Attack: 68
Defence: 66
Balance: 76
Stamina: 82
Top Speed: 84
Acceleration: 82
Response: 73
Agility: 79
Dribble Accuracy: 72
Dribble Speed: 76
Short Pass Accuracy: 71
Short Pass Speed: 72
Long Pass Accuracy: 79
Long Pass Speed: 75
Shot Accuracy: 63
Shot Power: 77
Shot Technique: 64
Free Kick Accuracy: 63
Curling: 82
Header: 69
Jump: 72
Technique: 73
Aggression: 72
Mentality: 81
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 76
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Standard
CARDS:
P04 - Darting Run
S09 - Covering
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Covering
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Balanced
INFO:
Saez, a right back, was known for his speed and positioning, as well as for his crosses that reached the back line. He scored eight goals in the campaigns that the red-and-white wore. He was a part of the legendary line Iríbar; Sáez, Echebarría, Aranguren! Sáez appeared regularly for Athletic from 1967 to 1974, helping the Lions to two Copa del Rey trophies (being the captain in 1973), and retired at the age of 31, having appeared in nearly 350 official games for the club.
He started his career as a winger, but ended up succeeding as a full-back. He did not have special conditions for marking, but he made up for them with good positioning. And because of speed, none of them left him behind. They would be struck by his speed. It was always his great weapon. He also centered very well, with a parable.
"My game was to throw the ball forward and run faster than the opponent". He made the one-on-one overflowing with speedhood. The objective was to reach the line, cross in front of the goalkeeper and trust that a teammate was ready to shoot.
Sáez earned 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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