When Diego Simeone replaced Gregorio Manzano in the Atlético Madrid hot-seat at the end of 2011, no one could have foreseen the impression the former Argentinian international would have on the club.
Simeone’s glittering playing career included winning La Liga with Atlético Madrid in 1996, but here was a man who had only had brief coaching spells in Argentina (winning the Argentinian Clausura in 2008 with River Plate) and a brief stint in Italy in charge of Catania.
Simeone’s love for Los Rojiblancos was no secret, but was the appointment of a coach with very little experience managing in Europe’s elite leagues really the right decision?
Fast forward nearly three years and after winning a Europa League title, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey, the club’s first La Liga title since 1996 and the recent Supercopa de España triumph, it is no exaggeration to say that Diego Simeone has been a revelation since taking over the reigns.
Saturday’s 2-1 triumph in the latest Derbi Madrileño at the Santiago Bernabeu over crosstown rivals and European champions Real Madrid was no fluke. After more than a decade of being beaten time and time again by their crosstown rivals, Simeone has gotten the better of Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España and Copa Del Rey finals respectively, and didn’t lose to Los Merengues in the league last season.
Other than Real’s 4-1 extra-time triumph over Atlético in May’s Champions League final (Atlético’s first European final for 40 years), the majority of the recent meetings between the two have swung in favour of Atlético. Beating Barcelona to La Liga on the final day of the season at the Camp Nou in front of 95,000 Catalans effectively cemented Simeone’s status as a club legend.
The man affectionately known as Cholo has had to deal with the departures of his star players at the end of every season he’s been at the helm. The departures of the likes of Falcao, Diego Costa and Felipe Luis should have hampered the club’s chances of remaining competitive, but Simeone has continued fine-tuning his team and has recruited well to ensure his departed stars are not missed.
In recent years, Los Rojiblancos have been known as a club who continuously sell its star players. The departures of Sergio Agüero, Diego Forlán, Falcao, Costa and Fernando Torres immediately spring to mind. But since Simeone’s appointment he has continued to add brilliant players to an already talented squad.
Atlético’s midfield core have been together since before Simeone took charge of Atleti, and this is one of the primary reasons why Los Rojiblancos have been so successful.
Twenty-two-year-old Spanish international Koke has quickly blossomed into one of European football’s finest passers, and has drawn comparisons to Barcelona and Spanish legend Xavi Hernández. Accompanied by brilliant Turk Arda Turan, Tiago, experienced captain Gabi, solid defensive midfielder Mario Suárez and Raúl García, Koke certainly has quality players around him who allow him to flourish.
Although Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has finally returned to Chelsea and has been replaced by Miguel Ángel Moyà, Atlético’s backline will continue to remain as solid as it was throughout last season despite the departure of Felipe Luis, who followed Costa and Courtois to Chelsea.
Atlético’s backline this season features the ever-present Diego Godín, Miranda and Juanfran with new signings Cristian Ansaldi, Jesús Gámez and experienced Brazilian Guilherme Siqueira. Los Rojiblancos‘ wealth of experience at the back has already proved to be a key part of their successful start to the season thus far, and expect the Atleti backline to remain as tough to break down as it proved to be last season.
Atlético will certainly have no trouble scoring goals this season either. With Costa gone and replaced by prolific Croatian Mario Mandžukić, Simeone has also brought in young Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez, highly-rated French speedster Antoine Griezmann and Italian wing-wizard Alessio Cerci.
In Mandžukić Atlético have one of Europe’s most lethal target men, and the signing of Raúl Jiménez shows that Diego Simeone is also looking to the future. Los Rojiblancos‘ frontline will be further boosted in January when highly-rated Argentinian youngster Ángel Correa finally completes his move from Copa Libertadores champions San Lorenzo, after undergoing heart surgery in June. The 19-year-old is essentially a carbon copy of former Atlético star Sergio Agüero, and is one of South American football’s brightest young prospects.
Diego Simeone’s side play with more heart than most sides in European football, and the unity within the squad along with the vast array of talent on show will ensure that Los Rojiblancos will remain competitive on all fronts this season.
Placed into a Champions League group featuring Italian champions Juventus, don’t bet against Atlético making a second consecutive appearance in the Champions League final, as well as retaining their La Liga crown. La Liga is no longer a two-team league, and Atlético Madrid are here to stay.
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