Saito retired from playing career in 1989, he became a manager for Mitsubishi Motors (later "Urawa Reds") as Kuniya Daini successor. In 1989/90 season, he led the club to won the champions in Division 2 and promoted to Division 1. He resigned in 1992. Through an assistant coach for Urawa Reds and JEF United Ichihara (later "JEF United Chiba"), he signed with Kawasaki Frontale in 1997. In 2000, he returned to Urawa Reds and managed the club. From 2010, he signed with JEF United Chiba and became an assistant coach. In 2014, he managed JEF United Chiba as caretaker as Jun Suzuki successor.