Few managers are as intertwined with the image of their club as is Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone. The combative Argentine has overseen the capital side’s return to prominence and fans were delighted when negotiations between Atletico and the coach’s agent and sister, Natalia Simeone, yielded a contract extension on Monday night.
The contract ties Simeone, 44, to the club until 2020 and sends a message to suitors that he is going nowhere. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United have all had an interest in the man known as “Cholo” by fans.
Simeone could have moved to a bigger or richer club, but the idea of building a legacy at Atletico, once known for having the shortest of managerial fuses, appeals. Atletico are not Barcelona or Real Madrid, but they have several reasons for optimism.
Average crowds have risen to 46,000, they have the prospect of a new, 70,000-seater stadium in 2017 and investment from the Chinese Wanda group, who own 20 per cent of the club. They also expect a greater share of the next television contract.
Simeone has been told there will be more funds for new players in the close season, with Atletico trying hard not to lose their best talents season after season. His trusted back-room staff, including assistant Mono Burgos, will also remain by his side.
Simeone’s team have slipped to fourth in the league and retaining the title which nobody said they could win is improbable, but the man who has won the league, Copa del Rey, Europa Cup, European Super Cup and reached the European Cup final has plenty to keep himself busy. His side are not quite the indomitable force they were a year ago and their weekend victory against Getafe was their first in a month. Benching the out of form Antoine Griezmann was wise and Fernando Torres scored a first league goal since he returned to the club in January.
Atletico are not the force they were a year ago. But a top-four finish and last eight in the Uefa Champions League should still be considered a success. Simeone will not settle for that, not with a tie versus Madrid coming in the Champions League quarter-finals next month.
Madrid tasted victory in the final last May, but have failed to do so in their past six meetings. Atletico lost to their rivals in the 2014 final but have beaten them He needs to re-invigorate his side in the short term to confirm that Champions League berth, for Sevilla are only four points behind in fifth.
Simeone has much to think about, starting with two Champions League quarterfinal ties against Real Madrid next month. Madrid beat Atleti in last season’s European Cup final, but haven’t defeated them in six games since.
Knocking the European Cup holders out of Europe would not avenge last season’s final, but it would reconfirm Simeone’s status as the man who consistently slays the world champions.
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