Diego Simeone facts for kids
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Simeone in 2024
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Diego Pablo Simeone González | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 28 April 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Atlético Madrid (manager) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vélez Sársfield | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1990 | Vélez Sársfield | 76 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1992 | Pisa | 56 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1994 | Sevilla | 64 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1997 | Atlético Madrid | 98 | (21) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Inter Milan | 57 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2003 | Lazio | 90 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | Atlético Madrid | 36 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Racing Club | 38 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 515 | (84) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Argentina U20 | 4 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Argentina U23 | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–2002 | Argentina | 108 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Racing Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Estudiantes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | River Plate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | San Lorenzo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Catania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Racing Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011– | Atlético Madrid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diego Pablo Simeone González is a famous Argentine football manager and former player. He was born on April 28, 1970. People often call him "El Cholo". He played as a midfielder and was known for his tough and energetic style.
Simeone played for many big clubs in Argentina, Italy, and Spain. These included Vélez Sarsfield, Pisa, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, Lazio, and Racing Club. He won many titles as a player, including a league and cup "double" with Atlético Madrid in 1996. He also won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan and another double with Lazio.
For his country, Argentina, Simeone played over 100 games. He represented Argentina in three FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002). He also won the Copa América twice, in 1991 and 1993. He earned a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
After retiring as a player, Simeone became a successful manager. He coached several teams in Argentina and Italy before joining Atlético Madrid in December 2011. He has been the manager of Atlético Madrid for over a decade, making him one of the longest-serving managers in Europe. Under his leadership, Atlético Madrid has become a top team, winning La Liga twice and reaching the UEFA Champions League final two times.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Early Days and Nickname
Diego Simeone started his football journey at Vélez Sarsfield. When he was 14, his youth coach, Victorio Spinetto, gave him the nickname "Cholo". This was because his energetic way of playing reminded the coach of another famous Argentine player named Carmelo Simeone.
Moving to Europe
In 1990, Simeone moved to Italy to play for Pisa. After two seasons there, he moved to Spain to join Sevilla. He played for Sevilla for two years before signing with Atlético Madrid.
Success with Atlético Madrid
At Atlético Madrid, Simeone became a key player. He was part of the team that won both the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey in the 1995–96 season. This was a huge achievement, winning two major trophies in one year! He even served as the team's captain.
Italian Adventures
In 1997, Simeone went back to Italy to play for Inter Milan. He spent two seasons there and helped them win the 1997–98 UEFA Cup. In 1999, he joined Lazio. With Lazio, he won the Serie A title in the 1999–2000 season. He also won the 1999–2000 Coppa Italia, completing another "double" in his career. He played three more seasons for Lazio.
Return to Atlético and Retirement
Simeone returned to Atlético Madrid in 2003 and played there for two more seasons. He played a total of 165 matches for Atlético, scoring 31 goals. In 2004, he decided to finish his playing career back in Argentina with Racing Club. He played his last professional match in February 2006.
International Career for Argentina
Diego Simeone played a very important role for the Argentina national team. He played 106 games for his country, which was a record at the time.
Major Tournaments and Wins
Simeone won the Copa América with Argentina in 1991 and 1993. He also played in three FIFA World Cups: 1994, 1998, and 2002. He was the captain of the team at the 1998 World Cup. In 1992, he helped Argentina win the FIFA Confederations Cup. He also won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Famous World Cup Moments
During the 1998 World Cup, in a match against England, England's David Beckham was sent off after kicking Simeone. Argentina went on to win that match. Simeone later said he exaggerated the injury to get Beckham sent off.
Simeone's Playing Style
Simeone was known as a very tough and energetic midfielder. He was good at winning the ball from opponents and also at starting attacks. He could play in many different midfield positions. He was strong, had great stamina, and was a natural leader on the field.
He once described his playing style as "holding a knife between his teeth." He saw himself as a "warrior, a fighter who aims to give everything." This shows how determined and competitive he was as a player.
Managerial Career
Starting as a Coach
After finishing his playing career, Simeone quickly became a manager. He started coaching Racing Club in 2006. Soon after, he became the head coach of Estudiantes and led them to win their first league title in 23 years in 2006. He also won the league title with River Plate in 2008.
Joining Atlético Madrid
On December 23, 2011, Diego Simeone was announced as the new coach of Atlético Madrid. This was a big moment for the club.
Early Success at Atlético (2011–2013)
In his first season as Atlético manager, Simeone led the team to win the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League. They beat Athletic Bilbao 3–0 in the final. A few months later, in August 2012, Atlético won the 2012 UEFA Super Cup by defeating Chelsea 4–1. In May 2013, he won the 2012–13 Copa del Rey by beating city rivals Real Madrid 2–1 in their home stadium.
Winning La Liga and Champions League Finals (2013–2017)
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The 2013–14 season was incredible for Atlético Madrid. Simeone guided them to win the 2013–14 La Liga title. This was their first league title since 1996, when Simeone himself was a player for the team! He became only the second person to win the Spanish league with Atlético both as a player and a coach.
In the same season, Atlético also reached the Champions League final for only the second time in the club's history. They faced their city rivals Real Madrid. Despite leading for most of the game, Atlético conceded a late goal and lost 4–1 after extra time. It was a tough defeat, but reaching the final was a huge achievement.
Simeone continued to build a strong team. In the 2015–16 season, Atlético had the best defense in Europe's top leagues. They reached the Champions League final again, once more facing Real Madrid. The match ended 1–1, and Atlético lost in a penalty shootout.
More Trophies and Records (2017–Present)
In the 2017–18 season, Atlético finished second in La Liga. They also won the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final by beating Marseille. Simeone was suspended for the final, so he had to watch from the stands.
On March 11, 2020, Atlético Madrid famously knocked out the reigning European champions Liverpool from the Champions League. On June 27, 2020, Simeone achieved a new record, becoming the manager with the most La Liga wins in Atlético's history, passing club legend Luis Aragonés.
For the 2020–21 season, Simeone made some tactical changes to his team. This helped Atlético go on a winning streak. On May 22, 2021, Atlético Madrid won their second La Liga title under Simeone, after a thrilling final matchday victory.
In November 2023, Simeone extended his contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2027. Later that month, he managed his 100th Champions League match with Atlético, becoming only the third manager to reach this milestone with one club. In November 2024, he managed his 700th match with the club in all competitions.
Simeone's Coaching Style
Simeone is known for his specific coaching style. He often uses a 4–4–2 formation, which means four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. His teams are very strong defensively and are excellent at quick counter-attacks. They focus on making it hard for opponents to score and then attacking quickly when they win the ball.
He is also praised for his attention to detail and how quickly he can change tactics during a game. He teaches his players to be confident and disciplined, which helps them win even when things are difficult. Players often say they would "die for him" because he inspires so much belief in them.
Personal Life
Diego Simeone has three sons from his first marriage: Giovanni, Gianluca, and Giuliano. All three of his sons are also professional football players.
Simeone also has two daughters, Francesca and Valentina, with his wife Carla Pereyra. They got married in 2019.
Honours
As a Player
Atlético Madrid
- La Liga: 1995–96
- Copa del Rey: 1995–96
Inter Milan
- UEFA Cup: 1997–98
Lazio
- Serie A: 1999–2000
- Coppa Italia: 1999–2000
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2000
- UEFA Super Cup: 1999
Argentina
- Copa América: 1991, 1993
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1992
- CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 1993
- Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 1996
As a Manager
Estudiantes
- Argentine Primera División: 2006 Torneo Apertura
River Plate
- Argentine Primera División: 2008 Torneo Clausura
Atlético Madrid
- La Liga: 2013–14, 2020–21
- Copa del Rey: 2012–13
- Supercopa de España: 2014
- UEFA Europa League: 2011–12, 2017–18
- UEFA Super Cup: 2012, 2018
See also
In Spanish: Diego Simeone para niños
