Diego Simeone

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Diego Simeone
Personal information
Full name Diego Pablo Simeone
Date of birth April 28, 1970 (1970-04-28) (age 41)
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1987–1990 Vélez Sársfield 76 (14)
1990–1992 Pisa 55 (6)
1992–1994 Sevilla 64 (12)
1994–1997 Atlético Madrid 98 (21)
1997–1999 Internazionale 57 (11)
1999–2003 Lazio 90 (15)
2003–2005 Atlético Madrid 36 (2)
2005–2006 Racing 37 (3)
Total 513 (84)
National team
1988–2002 Argentina 106 (11)
Teams managed
2006 Racing
2006–2007 Estudiantes
2008 River Plate
2009–2010 San Lorenzo
2011 Catania
2011-2012 Racing
2012– Atlético Madrid
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Argentina
Men's Football
Silver 1996 Atlanta Team Competition
Copa América wins with Argentina
1991 Chile
1993 Ecuador
La Liga de Fútbol Profesional Championships
1996 with Atlético Madrid
Copa del Rey Wins
1996 with Atlético Madrid
UEFA Cup
1998 with Inter Milan
European Super Cup Wins
1999 with S.S. Lazio
Serie A Championships
2000 with S.S. Lazio
Coppa Italia Wins
2000 with S.S. Lazio
SuperCoppa Italiana Wins
2000 with S.S. Lazio

Diego Pablo Simeone (born April 28, 1970 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine football manager and former player. A defensive midfielder, he was once the most capped player for Argentina.

When Simeone was 14, his youth coach Victorio Spinetto nicknamed him Cholo as his energetic play reminded him of former Boca Juniors player and Argentine international Carmelo Simeone (no relation) who had that nickname.[1]

In his club career that started in 1987, Simeone played for Vélez Sársfield, Pisa, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Internazionale, and Lazio.

Contents

[edit] Club career

Simeone spent most of his career in Italy with Pisa his first European club in 1990 in which he was brought in by manager Mircea Lucescu. After spells at Atlético Madrid where he was part of the club's 1996 La Liga and Copa Del Rey double triumph and Sevilla, Simeone returned to Serie A with Internazionale in 1997 and played two full seasons, winning the UEFA Cup in 1998 in a side spearheaded by Ronaldo up front. They beat his future club Lazio 3–0 in the final.

In 1999 Lazio, bankrolled by food empire Cirio and its owner Sergio Cragnotti and under the guidance of Sven-Göran Eriksson, bought Simeone to join a strong Argentine flavour at the Biancocelesti which included veteran Néstor Sensini, Matías Almeyda, Hernán Crespo and the mercurial passing skills of Juan Sebastián Verón.

The side had gone close to the Scudetto just before Simeone's arrival and he helped deliver the championship after a gruelling season where Juventus led the standings by two points going into the last day, but a Juve loss at rainy Perugia coupled with Lazio's comfortable home win over Reggina at the Stadio Olimpico ensured Simeone's first Serie A title. After winning the double in Spain he would then add the Italian double as Lazio edged out Internazionale to claim the 2000 Coppa Italia.

He went on to play three more seasons at the Biancocelesti which included more last day drama as a Simeone goal against former club Inter on the last day of the 2001–02 campaign effectively ruined his old employers' title dream.

Simeone returned to Atlético Madrid in 2003 and played two more seasons before leaving Europe to return to Argentina with Racing.

[edit] International career

For the Argentine team, Simeone amassed 106 caps,[2] the first coming in 1988.

Simeone won the 1991 and 1993 editions of the Copa América with Argentina. He played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He was a member of the team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. As a midfielder, Simeone scored 11 goals for his country, including one in the final of the 1992 Confederations Cup.

During the 1998 World Cup, England's David Beckham was sent off for kicking Simeone in retaliation for a foul. (see also Argentina and England football rivalry). Simeone later admitted to simulating the injury from the kick, in order to get Beckham sent off.[3] In the following match, against the Netherlands, Simeone was injured by a tackle during his team's defeat. In the 2002 World Cup, his last, Argentina was eliminated in the group stage.

Simeone once described his style as "holding a knife between his teeth". Simeone admitted to being "embarrassed" at having surpassed Diego Maradona as Argentina's most capped player (he has since been surpassed by Roberto Ayala and Javier Zanetti).

[edit] Managerial career

Simeone ended his playing career for Racing, playing his last match on 17 February 2006, and then became manager for the same team. After a rough start, the team made an impressive finish in the 2006 Clausura. When ownership of the club changed hands, Simeone left Racing in May 2006 and was replaced with Reinaldo Merlo.

On May 18, he became head coach of Estudiantes de La Plata and soon led them to their first League title in 23 years after defeating Boca Juniors 2–1 in a final match played December 13, 2006.

In an October 2006 poll in the sports daily Ole, Simeone was voted as the best manager in the Argentine league.[4] He was also praised as a "born manager" by former Argentine international Roberto Perfumo.[5]

Simeone left Estudiantes after the end of the 2007 Apertura, where Estudiantes was not a contender after a bad start, but had a strong finish of nine lossless games.

On December 15, 2007 Simeone was unveiled as the new River Plate coach, succeeding Daniel Passarella. The contract was reported to be a year long, starting on January 3, 2008.[6]

After an early elimination in the Copa Libertadores losing to San Lorenzo in the second round, Simeone and River Plate went on to win the 2008 Clausura championship after beating Olimpo 2–1 in the Monumental.[7]

On November 7, 2008 Simeone announced his resignation as coach of River Plate after their elimination at the Quarter-final stage of Copa Sudamericana 2008 by the Mexican team Chivas and a poor run of form of 11 domestic games without a win which left them bottom of the Primera División Argentina with only six games remaining.[8][9]

On 15 April 2009 Simeone joined San Lorenzo to replace Miguel Angel Russo, following the club's exit in the first round of Copa Libertadores 2009.[10] On 3 April 2010 the coach quit San Lorenzo due poor results and mounting criticism.[11]

On 19 January 2011, Simeone flew to Sicily to join Serie A side, Catania, replacing Marco Giampaolo who left the club just hours earlier.[12][13] On 1 June 2011, he left his post after helping Catania stave off relegation.[14]

On 21 June 2011, Simeone was named as the new coach of Racing Club for a second spell in charge, replacing Miguel Ángel Russo who had resigned the prior week.[15]

On 23 December 2011, Simeone was unveiled as the new Atlético Madrid coach, succeeding Gregorio Manzano.

[edit] Managerial titles

Season Club Title
Apertura 2006 ArgentinaEstudiantes Primera Division Argentina
Clausura 2008 ArgentinaRiver Plate Primera Division Argentina

[edit] Career statistics

[16]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Argentina League Cup League Cup South America Total
1987–88 Vélez Sársfield Primera División 28 4
1988–89 16 2
1989–90 32 8
Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total
1990–91 Pisa Serie A 31 4
1991–92 Serie B 24 2
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
1992–93 Sevilla La Liga 33 4
1993–94 31 8
1994–95 Atlético Madrid La Liga 29 6
1995–96 37 12
1996–97 32 3
Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total
1997–98 Internazionale Serie A 30 6 2 0 - - 9 1
1998–99 27 5 8 0 - - 9 2
1999–00 Lazio Serie A 28 5
2000–01 30 2
2001–02 8 1
2002–03 24 7
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
2003–04 Atlético Madrid La Liga 28 2
2004–05 8 0
Argentina League Cup League Cup South America Total
2004–05 Racing Primera División 17 2
2005–06 20 1
Total Argentina 113 17
Italy 202 32
Spain 198 35
Career total 513 84

[17]

Argentina national team
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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Diario Deportivo Olé – El más odiado, el más bancado
  2. ^ RSSSF Argentine international players
  3. ^ Carlin, John (May 19, 2002). "England v Argentina – A history". Observer Sport Monthly, 19 May 2002 (London). http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2002/countries/story/0,,716632,00.html. Retrieved November 15, 2006. 
  4. ^ Simeone, el gran estratega del fútbol argentino
  5. ^ El técnico se hace, sí, pero sobre todo nace
  6. ^ Guardian football
  7. ^ River Plate crowned champion of Argentine Clausura – International Herald Tribune
  8. ^ Diego Simeone renunció a la dirección técnica de River at ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
  9. ^ Las causas de una salida inevitable
  10. ^ Ex-River boss Simeone to manage San Lorenzo
  11. ^ Simeone quits San Lorenzo post after dismal run
  12. ^ "ESCLUSIVA TMW - Criscitiello: "Colpo Lo Monaco: Simeone a Catania" [TMW EXCLUSIVE - Criscitiello: "Lo Monaco strikes: Simeone to Catania"]" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 19 January 2011. http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=248797. Retrieved 19 January 2011. 
  13. ^ "Diego Pablo Simeone è il nuovo allenatore del Catania" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 19 January 2011. http://www.calciocatania.it/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=21846. Retrieved 19 January 2011. 
  14. ^ "Catania, rescinde Simeone [Simeone quits Catania]" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 1 June 2011. http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=271540. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  15. ^ "Diego Simeone fue presentado como nuevo técnico de Racing Club [Diego Simeone was introduced as new coach of Racing Club]" (in Spanish). Racing. 21 June 2011. http://www.racingclub.com.ar/detalle/noticias/2789/. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
  16. ^ :: National Football Teams ::.. Player – Diego Simeone
  17. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/simeone-intl.html

[edit] External links
Atlético Madrid – current squad
La Liga Managers
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