Diego Simeone

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Simeone's connection to Atlético Madrid began as a player. He was part of the team which won the double of the Liga title and Copa del Rey during the 1995–96 season, serving as the club's captain. In total, he played in 165 matches for Atlético, scoring 31 goals. After returning to the club as manager in December 2011, he won Atlético their first derby against arch-rivals Real Madrid in 14 years in the 2013 Copa Del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has since won La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey, two UEFA Europa Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, as well as being runner-up of the UEFA Champions League twice.

In Their Own Story

In the 2013 Copa Del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabeu, Simeone led Atlético Madrid to their first derby victory against arch-rivals Real Madrid in 14 years. The win was a turning point, signaling that the old order was shifting. Under his command, the team reached two Champions League finals, ending decades of stagnation and re-establishing Atlético as a force capable of defeating any opponent in Europe. Simeone won Atlético their first derby against arch-rivals Real Madrid in 14 years in the 2013 Copa Del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Reader's Guide

When Diego Simeone took charge in December 2011, he didn't just inherit a squad; he forged a fortress. Having already etched his name into club history as a tenacious midfielder during the 1995–96 double-winning season, 'El Cholo' returned to rewrite the narrative of Spanish football. His philosophy turned the team into a competitor for the La Liga and broke the Real Madrid–Barcelona duopoly. Simeone didn't just win games; he restored pride, identity, and a terrifying fearlessness to the Colchoneros.

Did You Know?

• Simeone is the second longest serving professional manager in Europe, having been at Atlético Madrid since December 2011.
• He won Atlético their first derby against arch-rivals Real Madrid in 14 years in the 2013 Copa Del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabeu.
• Simeone has been runner-up of the UEFA Champions League twice with Atlético Madrid.
• He is the longest-serving manager in La Liga, having stayed for well over a decade at Atlético.
• Simeone won the double of the Liga title and Copa del Rey with Atlético Madrid as a player during the 1995–96 season, serving as the club's captain.