Diego Simeone facts for kids
Simeone as Atlético Madrid manager in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 April 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Argentina U20 | 4 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Argentina U23 | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–2002 | Argentina | 108 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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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Honours
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Diego Pablo Simeone González (born 28 April 1970) is a famous Argentine football manager and former player. People often call him "El Cholo". He played as a midfielder and is now the manager of the Spanish club Atlético Madrid. He has been their manager since December 2011.
Simeone's playing career started in 1987. He played for 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. For example, he won the Spanish league and cup with Atlético Madrid in 1996. He also won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan in 1998. With Lazio, he won the Italian league and cup in 2000.
Diego Simeone played over 100 games for the Argentina national team. He played in three FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998, and 2002). He also won the Copa América twice (1991 and 1993). He helped Argentina win the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992 and a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
As a manager, Simeone coached several teams in Argentina and Italy before joining Atlético Madrid. He led Argentine clubs Estudiantes and River Plate to win their league titles. His biggest success has been with Atlético Madrid. He has made them one of the top teams in Spain and Europe. He has won the Spanish league twice, the Copa del Rey, and two UEFA Europa Leagues. He also led them to two UEFA Champions League finals. Simeone is the longest-serving manager in the Spanish league.
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Playing Career Highlights
When Diego Simeone was 14, his youth coach gave him the nickname "Cholo". This was because his energetic way of playing reminded the coach of another famous player named Carmelo Simeone.
Simeone started his career at Vélez Sarsfield in Argentina. In 1990, he moved to Italy to play for Pisa. After two seasons, he joined Sevilla in Spain.
Success with Atlético Madrid
Simeone then signed with Atlético Madrid. Here, he was a key part of the team that won both the Spanish league title and the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) in the 1995–96 season. He was the team's captain during this amazing time.
In 1997, Simeone went back to Italy to play for Inter Milan. He spent two seasons there and won the 1997–98 UEFA Cup with them.
Winning More Trophies
In 1999, Simeone joined Lazio, another Italian club. He helped Lazio win the Italian league title in the 1999–2000 season. They also won the Italian Cup that year, completing another "double" (winning both the league and cup).
After four seasons with Lazio, Simeone returned to Atlético Madrid in 2003. He played two more seasons there. In total, he played 165 games for Atlético and scored 31 goals. In 2004, he decided to finish his playing career back in Argentina with Racing Club.
International Games for Argentina
Simeone played for the Argentina senior team over 100 times. His first game was in 1988. He was the first Argentine player to reach 100 international games.
He won the Copa América with Argentina in 1991 and 1993. He also played in the FIFA World Cup in 1994, 1998, and 2002. In the 1998 World Cup, he was the team captain.
Simeone was part of the Argentina team that won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He scored 11 goals for his country. One of his goals helped Argentina win the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup final against Saudi Arabia.
How Diego Simeone Plays (as a Player)
Simeone was known as a tough, energetic, and versatile midfielder. He was good at winning the ball and starting attacks. He could also score goals himself. He often played in the middle of the field. He was known for his leadership, smart tactics, strength, and stamina.
He once said his playing style was like "holding a knife between his teeth." He saw himself as a "warrior, a fighter who aims to give everything."
Becoming a Manager
Simeone ended his playing career and immediately became a manager for Racing Club in 2006.
Early Managerial Success
In May 2006, Simeone became the head coach of Estudiantes. He quickly led them to win their first league title in 23 years in December 2006. Many people praised him as a "born manager."
In December 2007, Simeone became the new coach of River Plate. He led River Plate to win the 2008 Clausura championship. After a tough period, he resigned from River Plate in November 2008. He then managed San Lorenzo for a year.
In January 2011, Simeone moved to Italy to manage Catania. He helped them avoid being relegated (moving down to a lower league). He left Catania in June 2011 and returned to Racing Club for a second time as coach.
Leading Atlético Madrid
On 23 December 2011, Diego Simeone became the new coach of Atlético Madrid. His first season was a big success. The team won the UEFA Europa League by beating Athletic Bilbao 3–0 in the final.
In August 2012, his Atlético team won the UEFA Super Cup by defeating Chelsea 4–1. In the Spanish league, Atlético finished third, which was their best finish in 17 years. In May 2013, he led the team to win the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) by beating their rivals Real Madrid 2–1.
Winning La Liga and Reaching Champions League Finals
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The 2013–14 season was incredible for Atlético. They won the Spanish league title for the first time since 1996. Simeone had been a player on that 1996 winning team, making him one of the few people to win the league with the same club as both a player and a coach.
In the Champions League that season, Atlético also did very well. They reached the final for only the second time in the club's history. In the final, they played against city rivals Real Madrid. Atlético was leading, but Real Madrid scored a late goal to tie the game. Real Madrid then won 4–1 in extra time.
Atlético continued to be a strong team under Simeone. In the 2015–16 season, he led them to another Champions League final. Again, they faced Real Madrid, and again, they lost in a penalty shootout after the game ended 1–1.
More Trophies and Records
In the 2017–18 season, Atlético finished second in the Spanish league. They also won the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final against Marseille.
Simeone has set many records at Atlético Madrid. On 27 June 2020, he won his 195th game in the Spanish league, becoming the manager with the most league wins in the club's history. On 10 March 2021, he reached his 309th win overall as manager, passing club legend Luis Aragonés for the most wins ever.
For the 2020–21 season, Simeone changed his team's playing style a bit. This helped Atlético win their second La Liga title under his leadership. They won it on the very last day of the season with a 2–1 away win.
In November 2023, Simeone extended his contract with Atlético Madrid until 2027. Later that month, he managed his 100th Champions League match with the club. This made him only the third manager to achieve this with one club. In November 2024, he managed his 700th match with Atlético Madrid across all competitions.
How Diego Simeone Coaches
Simeone usually uses a 4–4–2 formation for his teams. This means four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. His teams are known for being very strong in defense and for making quick counter-attacks. They work hard to win the ball back and then attack together.
He also pays close attention to small details and can quickly change his tactics during a game. He is known for making his players confident and disciplined. This helps his teams win even when things are difficult. For example, in the 2014 La Liga final, his team had injuries and went behind, but he rallied them to get the draw they needed to win the title.
One of his players, Diego Godin, once said: "The players would die for him [Simeone]. He gives belief that we can compete against much bigger teams." This shows how much his players trust and believe in him.
Family Life
Diego Simeone has three sons from his first marriage: Giovanni, Gianluca, and Giuliano. All three of them are also professional football players.
Simeone also has two daughters, Francesca and Valentina, with his wife Carla Pereyra. They got married in 2019.
Career Statistics
Club
- Source:
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vélez Sársfield | 1987–88 | Primera División | 28 | 4 | 28 | 4 | ||||||
| 1988–89 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1989–90 | 32 | 8 | 32 | 8 | ||||||||
| Total | 76 | 14 | 76 | 14 | ||||||||
| Pisa | 1990–91 | Serie A | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 4 | ||
| 1991–92 | Serie B | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | |||
| Total | 56 | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 61 | 6 | ||||
| Sevilla | 1992–93 | La Liga | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 4 | ||
| 1993–94 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 38 | 12 | ||||
| Total | 64 | 12 | 9 | 4 | — | — | 73 | 16 | ||||
| Atlético Madrid | 1994–95 | La Liga | 29 | 6 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 37 | 8 | ||
| 1995–96 | 37 | 12 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 12 | ||||
| 1996–97 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 7 | ||
| Total | 98 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 126 | 27 | ||
| Inter Milan | 1997–98 | Serie A | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | 41 | 7 | |
| 1998–99 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 2 | — | 43 | 7 | |||
| Total | 57 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 3 | — | 84 | 14 | |||
| Lazio | 1999–2000 | Serie A | 28 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 7 |
| 2000–01 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 3 | ||
| 2001–02 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| 2002–03 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 35 | 7 | |||
| Total | 90 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 136 | 18 | ||
| Atlético Madrid | 2003–04 | La Liga | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2004–05 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| Total | 36 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 47 | 3 | |||
| Racing Club | 2004–05 | Primera División | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | |||
| 2005–06 | 20 | 1 | — | — | — | 20 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 38 | 3 | — | — | — | 38 | 3 | |||||
| Career total | 515 | 84 | 60 | 8 | 62 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 641 | 101 | ||
International
Source:
| Argentina | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 9 | 2 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 |
| 1993 | 13 | 1 |
| 1994 | 10 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 | 2 |
| 1996 | 6 | 2 |
| 1997 | 9 | 1 |
| 1998 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | 11 | 1 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 106 | 11 |
International goals
- Argentina score listed first, score column indicates score after each Simeone goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 July 1988 | Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia |  Saudi Arabia |
1–0 | 2–0 | Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup |
| 2 | 12 July 1991 | Estadio Municipal, Concepción, Chile |  Paraguay |
2–0 | 4–1 | 1991 Copa América |
| 3 | 21 July 1991 | Estadio Nacional de Chile, Santiago, Chile |  Colombia |
1–0 | 2–1 | |
| 4 | 20 October 1992 | King Fahd II Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia |
3–0 | 3–1 | 1992 King Fahd Cup Final |
| 5 | 23 June 1993 | Estadio George Capwell, Guayaquil, Ecuador | Colombia |
1–0 | 1–1 | 1993 Copa América |
| 6 | 22 June 1995 | Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina |  Slovakia League |
5–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 11 July 1995 | Estadio Parque Artigas, Paysandú, Uruguay |  Chile |
2–0 | 4–0 | 1995 Copa América |
| 8 | 20 June 1996 | Tucumán, Argentina |  Poland B League |
– | 2–0 | Copa La Gaceta |
| 9 | 9 October 1996 | Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela |  Venezuela |
3–1 | 5–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 8 June 1997 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Ecuador |
2–0 | 2–0 | |
| 11 | 1 July 1999 | Estadio Feliciano Cáceres, Luque, Paraguay | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1999 Copa América |
Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Racing Club | 18 February 2006 | 4 May 2006 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 35.71 | |
| Estudiantes | 18 May 2006 | 3 December 2007 | 60 | 34 | 15 | 11 | 56.67 | |
| River Plate | 15 December 2007 | 7 November 2008 | 45 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 44.44 | |
| San Lorenzo | 15 April 2009 | 3 April 2010 | 50 | 22 | 9 | 19 | 44.00 | |
| Catania | 19 January 2011 | 1 June 2011 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 38.89 | |
| Racing Club | 21 June 2011 | 23 December 2011 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 40.00 | |
| Atlético Madrid | 23 December 2011 | Present | 713 | 424 | 157 | 132 | 59.47 | |
| Total | 920 | 520 | 210 | 190 | 56.52 | |||
Honours and Awards
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 National Team
- Copa América: 1991, 1993
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1992
- CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 1993
- Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 1996
Individual Awards
- Trofeo EFE: 1995–96
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
Individual Manager Awards
- La Liga Manager of the Month: October 2013, November 2015, March 2017, October 2023, December 2024
- La Liga Coach of the Year: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2020–21
- Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2020–21
- Facebook/MARCA Football Awards (Best Manager): 2016
- IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2016
- Globe Soccer Master Coach Special Award: 2017
- IFFHS Club Coach of the Decade: 2011–2020
- Konex Awards: 2020
See Also
In Spanish: Diego Simeone para niños
- List of UEFA Cup and Europa League winning managers
- List of footballers with 100 or more caps
