UEFA EURO 2008 would always boast new stars and although not many would be really new as most of the national players would have plied their trades in various European leagues around the region. But for the younger players, nothing is more valuable than the experience gathered in this tournament where the UEFA European Under 17s starts in Turkey.

The title holders for the Under 17s is held by Spain, whose coach Juan Santisteban had gathered much success at the youth level. While the senior team has since not been able to win any major tournament of late, the juniors have tasted success through the flanks of the very experienced coach, who has been at the helm for 20 years said "Fortunately, I have been lucky enough to work with the youth teams and work with 90 per cent of the players who will be at UEFA EURO 2008™, which makes me very proud. Also, we had Bojan Krkić not long ago and he was playing for us at the age of 15. It fills me with pride to have kids of that age in the team and then see them becoming football stars."

The 71 year old Santisteban played in the Real Madrid team in the 1950s has won tournaments with players like Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and Bojan who are fruits of his youth regiment. For all that success and knowledge he injected, he has garnered much respect and acknowledgement from the national team and players all country over. He said "I still haven't encountered a player that has turned his back on me when we meet. They all greet me, they hug me, and they thank all the coaching staff for what we have done for them. They're aware that we have worked for them to help them learn how to be a person and then a footballer. There are some that are shyer than others, but not many."

He believe not only in playing the game but in the development of character of a footballer for his players where he aims to groom them to become influential figures on and off the field. "My objective is always for the youngsters to be persons. If they end up making a living in football, all the better, but the fundamental thing is for them to learn to be people. It's essential and the most important thing in the upbringing of a child. In the sporting sense, they have to play to enjoy themselves, without worrying about winning or losing."