'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Diego Simeone is right now the most talked about football manager in European football, after he masterminded Atletico Madrid's dream season as they lost in the finals of the Champions League and clinched the La Liga.Here are 7 things about Diego Simeone that you didn't know.
#1 Playing Career
Diego Simeone’s love for Atletico Madrid comes from his 19 year playing career during which he had two spells with Los Colcheneros.
He played as a defensive midfielder and started his professional career at Vélez Sarsfield in Argentina and went to play for Sevilla, Inter Milan and Lazio, where he had his most successful spell winning 4 trophies in 1 year.
He played for Atletico Madrid for 3 seasons from 1994 to 1997 winning the La Liga and Copa Del Rey with them. He returned to Atletico in 2003 but left 2 years later to finish his career at Argentinian side Racing Club de Avellaneda.
#2 Fernando Torres was his captain during his 2nd stint
Fernando Torres was made Atletico Madrid captain when he was just 19 in the 2003-2004 season after being the club’s top goalscorer for two seasons.
When Simeone had his second stint at the club, Torres captained the side to the UEFA Intertoto Cup final which they lost 3-1 to Villareal CF.
They failed to win any trophies during Simeone’s second stint finishing in 11th place at the end of the 2004-2005 season after which Simeone left to play in Argentina.
#3 Unusual techniques to inspire
Diego Simeones motivational techniques are quite unique. He prefers to give the pre-match team talk before his players go to bed saying Just like children, they listen best just before bedtime."
He also askedSpanish Paralympic skier and journalist Irene Villa -who lost both her legs and three fingers of one hand aged just 12- to give the squad their pre-match pep talk before facing Athletic Bilbao earlier this season. The move paid off as Atletico Madrid came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and return to the top of the table.
Asked about it later he said Winning is very close to losing and the harder you fight the better chance you have.
#4 Football is in his blood
Simeone comes from a very football oriented family.
His father, Carlos Alberto Simeone was an amateur football player and two of his sons play for Argentinian club, River Plate with his eldest son, Giovanni, playing in the senior team and his youngest son, Giuliano, playing in the club’s youth system. His sister Natalia is also his agent.
#5 The David Beckham incident
Simeone once described his playing style as “holding a knife between his teeth” meaning he was willing to take any possible chance to win. This was seen during the 1998 World Cup when during a match between Argentina and England, Simeone fouled David Beckham and then went down rather softly after Beckham kicked out at him in frustration.
The incident led to Beckham being sent off and England losing the match on penalties. Beckham received a lot of criticism for being naive and Simeone later confessed that he was being theatrical on purpose to have him sent off.
He revealed in 2002 “I had tackled him, we both fell to the ground. As I was trying to stand up that was when he kicked me from behind. And I took advantage of that. And I think any person would have taken advantage of that in just the same way.
Sometimes you get sent off, sometimes you don't. Unfortunately for the English team that time they lost a player. Anyway, you take advantage of all the opportunities you find in your life. If you don't take advantage of a chance that comes your way you are lost."
#6 Shower time
After his last game as a player on Febraury 16 2006, Simeone reportedly spent half an hour in the shower trying to decide if he was going to be a manager in the future.
He ultimately made the right decision as he went on to win 2 trophies in 3 years after improving his teams’ performances drastically. He also won Manager of the Year in Argentina.
He changed clubs in quick succession in the next 2 years after poor performances before joining Atletico Madrid in 2011 and his success at Atletico is for all to see..
#7 The next Special One?
Simeone is being touted as Jose Mourinho’s replacement as “The Special One” following his exploits in Europe and La Liga. He helped Atletico Madrid win the UEFA Europa League in his first season. He won the UEFA Super Cup the following year beating Chelsea 4-1 and Atletico Madrid finished 3rd in La Liga.
His moniker as “The Special One” started after he beat Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey final. Mourinho has since gone to manage at Chelsea where he has had a disappointing season whereas Simeone has won the La Liga with Atletico for the first time since 1996 and helped his team reach the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in their history.
