Diego Simeone has personified ‘Atletico Madrid’ after his stunning eleven-and-a-half-year stint at the club. The Argentine, who took the job in 2011 is still at the helm of the Spanish giants, and apart from some hiccups, has delivered consistently. Simeone has become a key figure of Atletico’s history, elevating the club from a mid-table outfit to serial winners.
However, their association could soon be coming to an end as according to El Chiringuito, Diego Simeone is set to leave the club at the end of the current season. The news comes as shocker for many after the 52-year-old had only extended his contract at the club until the summer of 2024 recently. But El Chiringuito have reported that the former Argentina international has already told the club his decision to quit after he completed 12 years at the club.
Diego Simeone to fulfill former player’s wish as he sets his eyes on Premier League move
Diego Simeone literally took Atletico from rags to riches, transforming a mediocre club into serial winners. After his appointment in the summer of 2011, Simeone, popularly known as ‘Cholo’ led the club to Europa League triumph in his debut 11/12 season. However, his first breakthrough with the club came in 13/14 season, when he steered them to their first La Liga title in 18 years, and broke the nine year monopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
He further led the club to two Champions League finals [losing both to Real Madrid], another Europa triumph in 2018, second La Liga title under his tenure in 20/21 season, three UEFA Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey and Spanish Cup. However, the recent results of the club haven’t been as per the usual standards, and calls for a managerial change have been made as well.
As a result, Simeone himself has come forward and told the club that he will be leaving this summer for a new challenge. And according to multiple reports, Cholo could honor the wish of his former player, Kieran Trippier who recently expressed his desire to see the Argentine manage in the Premier League. Trippier, who was part of Atletico’s 20/21 title winning team, told GOAL:
“I’d love to see him in the Premier League because I think he would be unbelievable. Simeone was incredible with me. He knew how I played. He changed my game defensively. He changed my game and the work I did individually, and I learned so much from him. His man-management was incredible.
“We lived in a compound called La Finca in Madrid. It was like St George’s Park, [with] lakes, fields and stuff. You’d see him on walks and try to chat. His wife speaks perfect English. Can he manage in England one day? I would love to see it. He is a manager who has to speak fluently because he wants to get his message across. If he couldn’t get his point across, he would get agitated, frustrated.”
The Premier League has recently witnessed import of a number of managers from Spain, with former Villarreal manager Unai Emery replacing Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and ex-Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui taking over the vacant Wolves job. Simeone, who currently boasts the richest net worth among the managers of £106m, could now be the next man to make an entry to the Premier League.