MADRID -- Jose Antonio Camacho announced his decision to step down after four years in charge of the Spanish national team on Tuesday.

"Life is made up of many stages and in my case I think that one of those has come to an end," he told reporters at a press conference in Madrid.

The 47-year-old said that the fact that he missed the daily involvement of coaching a club side was the determining factor in his decision to give up his post two years before his contract was due to expire, said Reuters.

"I have thought it over very carefully and to wait another two years for the European championships and another two for the World Cup would be too long for me and I need to have the day-to-day motivation of coaching," he added.

Camacho said there was nothing suspicious about his early departure, insisting he had been happy working with the national squad.

"I have enjoyed my work and the time I have been here at the federation has been fantastic," he said. "Don't look for any hidden reason because there isn't one. I have been at a European championship, a World Cup and now I have to wait and start again. If things hadn't finished well I wouldn't be here now."