- Diego Simeone
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Diego Simeone Personal information Full name Diego Pablo Simeone Date of birth April 28, 1970 Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) Playing position Defensive midfielder Club information Current club Racing (manager) Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1987–1990 Vélez Sársfield 76 (14) 1990–1992 Pisa 55 (6) 1992–1994 Sevilla 64 (12) 1994–1997 Atlético Madrid 98 (21) 1997–1999 Internazionale 57 (11) 1999–2003 Lazio 90 (15) 2003–2005 Atlético Madrid 36 (2) 2005–2006 Racing 37 (3) Total 513 (84) National team 1988–2002 Argentina 106 (11) Teams managed 2006 Racing 2006–2007 Estudiantes 2008 River Plate 2009–2010 San Lorenzo 2011 Catania 2011– Racing * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Olympic medal record Competitor for 
ArgentinaMen's Football Silver 1996 Atlanta Team Competition Copa América wins with Argentina 1991 Chile 1993 Ecuador La Liga de Fútbol Profesional Championships 1996 with Atlético Madrid Copa del Rey Wins 1996 with Atlético Madrid UEFA Cup 1998 with Inter Milan European Super Cup Wins 1999 with S.S. Lazio Serie A Championships 2000 with S.S. Lazio Coppa Italia Wins 2000 with S.S. Lazio SuperCoppa Italiana Wins 2000 with S.S. Lazio Diego Pablo Simeone (born April 28, 1970 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine football manager and former player. He is the current coach of the Racing. A defensive midfielder, he was the most capped player ever for Argentina (he has been since surpassed).
When Simeone was 14, his youth coach Victorio Spinetto nicknamed him Cholo as his energetic play reminded him of former Boca Juniors player and Argentine international Carmelo Simeone (no relation) who had that nickname.[1]
In his club career that started in 1987, Simeone played for Vélez Sársfield, Pisa, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, and Lazio.
Contents
Club career
Simeone spent most of his career in Italy with Pisa his first European club in 1990 in which he was brought in by manager Mircea Lucescu. After spells at Atletico Madrid where he was part of the club's 1996 La Liga and Copa Del Rey double triumph and Sevilla, Simeone returned to Serie A with Inter in 1997 and played two full seasons, winning the UEFA Cup in 1998 in a side spearheaded by Ronaldo up front. They beat his future club Lazio 3–0 in the final.
In 1999 Lazio, bankrolled by food empire Cirio and its owner Sergio Cragnotti and under the guidance of Sven Goran Eriksson, bought Simeone to join a strong Argentine flavour at the Biancocelesti which included veteran Nestor Sensini, Matias Almeyda, Hernan Crespo and the mercurial passing skills of Juan Sebastian Veron.
The side had gone close to the Scudetto just before Simeone's arrival and he helped deliver the championship after a gruelling season where Juventus led the standings by two points going into the last day, but a Juve loss at rainy Perugia coupled with Lazio's comfortable home win over Reggina at the Stadio Olimpico ensured Simeone's first Serie A title. After winning the double in Spain he would then add the Italian double as Lazio edged out Inter to claim the 2000 Coppa Italia.
He went on to play three more seasons at the Biancocelesti which included more last day drama as a Simeone goal against former club Inter on the last day of the 2001–02 campaign effectively ruined his old employers' title dream.
Simeone returned to Atletico Madrid in 2003 and played two more seasons before leaving Europe to return to Argentina with Racing.
International career
For the Argentine team, Simeone amassed 106 caps,[2] the first coming in 1988.
Simeone won the 1991 and 1993 editions of the Copa América with Argentina. He played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He was a member of the team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. As a midfielder, Simeone scored 11 goals for his country, including one in the final of the 1992 Confederations Cup.
During the 1998 World Cup, England's David Beckham was sent off for kicking Simeone in retaliation for a foul. (see also Argentina and England football rivalry). Simeone later admitted to simulating the injury from the kick, in order to get Beckham sent off.[3] In the following match, against the Netherlands, Simeone was injured by a tackle during his team's defeat. In the 2002 World Cup, his last, Argentina was eliminated in the group stage.
Simeone once described his style as "holding a knife between his teeth". Simeone admitted to being "embarrassed" at having surpassed Diego Maradona as Argentina's most capped player (he has since been surpassed by Roberto Ayala and Javier Zanetti).
Managerial career
Simeone ended his playing career for Racing, playing his last match on 17 February 2006, and then became manager for the same team. After a rough start, the team made an impressive finish in the 2006 Clausura. When ownership of the club changed hands, Simeone left Racing in May 2006 and was replaced with Reinaldo Merlo.
On May 18, he became head coach of Estudiantes de La Plata and soon led them to their first League title in 23 years after defeating Boca Juniors 2–1 in a final match played December 13, 2006.
In an October 2006 poll in the sports daily Ole, Simeone was voted as the best manager in the Argentine league.[4] He was also praised as a "born manager" by former Argentine international Roberto Perfumo.[5]
Simeone left Estudiantes after the end of the 2007 Apertura, where Estudiantes was not a contender after a bad start, but had a strong finish of nine lossless games.
On December 15, 2007 Simeone was unveiled as the new River Plate coach, succeeding Daniel Passarella. The contract was reported to be a year long, starting on January 3, 2008.[6]
After an early elimination in the Copa Libertadores losing to San Lorenzo in the second round, Simeone and River Plate went on to win the 2008 Clausura championship after beating Olimpo 2–1 in the Monumental.[7]
On November 7, 2008 Simeone announced his resignation as coach of River Plate after their elimination at the Quarter-final stage of Copa Sudamericana 2008 by the Mexican team Chivas and a poor run of form of 11 domestic games without a win which left them bottom of the Primera División Argentina with only six games remaining.[8][9]
On 15 April 2009 Simeone joined San Lorenzo to replace Miguel Angel Russo, following the club's exit in the first round of Copa Libertadores 2009.[10] On 3 April 2010 the coach quit San Lorenzo due poor results and mounting criticism.[11]
On 19 January 2011, Simeone flew to Sicily to join Serie A side, Catania, replacing Marco Giampaolo who left the club just hours earlier.[12][13] On 1 June 2011, he left his post after helping Catania stave off relegation.[14]
On 21 June 2011, Simeone was named as the new coach of Racing Club for a second spell in charge, replacing Miguel Ángel Russo who had resigned the prior week.[15]
Managerial titles
Season Club Title Apertura 2006 EstudiantesPrimera Division Argentina Clausura 2008 River PlatePrimera Division Argentina Career statistics
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Argentina League Cup League Cup South America Total 1987–88 Vélez Sársfield Primera División 28 4 1988–89 16 2 1989–90 32 8 Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total 1990–91 Pisa Serie A 31 4 1991–92 Serie B 24 2 Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total 1992–93 Sevilla La Liga 33 4 1993–94 31 8 1994–95 Atlético Madrid La Liga 29 6 1995–96 37 12 1996–97 32 3 Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total 1997–98 Internazionale Milano Serie A 30 6 2 0 - - 9 1 1998–99 27 5 8 0 - - 9 2 1999–00 Lazio Serie A 28 5 2000–01 30 2 2001–02 8 1 2002–03 24 7 Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total 2003–04 Atlético Madrid La Liga 28 2 2004–05 8 0 Argentina League Cup League Cup South America Total 2004–05 Racing Primera División 17 2 2005–06 20 1 Total Argentina 113 17 Italy 202 32 Spain 198 35 Career total 513 84 Argentina national team Year Apps Goals 1988 2 1 1989 3 0 1990 1 0 1991 9 2 1992 3 1 1993 13 1 1994 10 0 1995 8 2 1996 6 2 1997 9 1 1998 12 0 1999 11 1 2000 11 0 2001 6 0 2002 2 0 Total 106 11 References
- ^ Diario Deportivo Olé – El más odiado, el más bancado
- ^ RSSSF Argentine international players
- ^ Carlin, John (May 19, 2002). "England v Argentina – A history". Observer Sport Monthly, 19 May 2002 (London). http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2002/countries/story/0,,716632,00.html. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
- ^ Simeone, el gran estratega del fútbol argentino
- ^ El técnico se hace, sí, pero sobre todo nace
- ^ Guardian football
- ^ River Plate crowned champion of Argentine Clausura – International Herald Tribune
- ^ Diego Simeone renunció a la dirección técnica de River at ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
- ^ Las causas de una salida inevitable
- ^ Ex-River boss Simeone to manage San Lorenzo
- ^ Simeone quits San Lorenzo post after dismal run
- ^ "ESCLUSIVA TMW - Criscitiello: "Colpo Lo Monaco: Simeone a Catania" [TMW EXCLUSIVE - Criscitiello: "Lo Monaco strikes: Simeone to Catania"]" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 19 January 2011. http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=248797. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ "Diego Pablo Simeone è il nuovo allenatore del Catania" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 19 January 2011. http://www.calciocatania.it/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=21846. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ "Catania, rescinde Simeone [Simeone quits Catania]" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 1 June 2011. http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=271540. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ "Diego Simeone fue presentado como nuevo técnico de Racing Club [Diego Simeone was introduced as new coach of Racing Club]" (in Spanish). Racing. 21 June 2011. http://www.racingclub.com.ar/detalle/noticias/2789/. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- ^ :: National Football Teams ::.. Player – Diego Simeone
- ^ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/simeone-intl.html
External links
- Profile and Statistics at yahoo.com
- Career details at National Football Teams
- (Spanish) Managerial statistics in the Argentine Primera
- (Spanish) Futbol Factory profile (Archived)
EFE Trophy 1990–91: Fernández | 1991–92: Zalazar | 1992–93: Zamorano | 1993–94: Romário | 1994–95: Zamorano | 1995–96: Simeone | 1996–97: Ronaldo | 1997–98: Roberto Carlos | 1998–99: Rivaldo | 1999–2000: Herrera | 2000–01: Acuña | 2001–02: Saviola | 2002–03: Ronaldo | 2003–04: Ronaldinho | 2004–05: Forlán | 2005–06: Aimar | 2006–07: Messi | 2007–08: Agüero | 2008–09: Messi | 2009–10: MessiClub Atlético River Plate – managers Caamaño (1931–33) · Hircshl (1934–39) · Platko (1940) · Cesarini (1940–44) · Peucelle (1945–46) · Minella (1947–59) · Galán (1960) · Hircshl (1961) · Rossi (1961–62) · Minella (1962–63) · Fernández Viola (1963) · Cesarini (1964–65) · Peucelle (1966) · Lorenzo (1967) · D'Amico (1967) · Labruna (1968–70) · Didi (1970–71) · Urriolabeitía (1972) · Delém (1973) · Rossi (1974) · Labruna (1975–81) · Di Stéfano (1981–82) · Varacka (1983) · Pando (caretaker) (1983) · Cubilla (1984) · Veira (1984–87) · Griguol (1987–88) · Menotti (1988–89) · Merlo (1989–90) · Passarella (1990–94) · Gallego (1994–95) · Babington (1995) · Díaz (1995–2000) · Gallego (2000–01) · Díaz (2001–02) · Pellegrini (2002–03) · Astrada (2004–05) · Merlo (2005) · Passarella (2006–07) · Simeone (2008) · Gorosito (2009) · Astrada (2009–10) · Cappa (2010) · López (2010–2011) · Almeyda (2011–)
Racing Club de Avellaneda – current squad 1 Saja · 2 Martínez · 3 Sainz · 4 Pillud · 5 Yacob · 6 Cahais · 7 Lugüercio · 8 Pelletieri · 9 Hauche · 10 Moreno · 11 Fariña · 12 Dobler · 14 Espinoza · 15 Zuculini · 16 Sarmiento · 17 Aued · 18 Toranzo · 19 Castro · 20 Viola · 21 De Olivera · 22 Aveldaño · 23 Lluy · 24 Colombini · 25 Licht · 26 Cellerino · 28 Cáceres · 29 Gutiérrez · 31 García · Manager: SimeoneCategories:- Argentine footballers
- Argentine people of Italian descent
- Argentina international footballers
- FIFA Century Club
- Association football midfielders
- Atlético Madrid footballers
- F.C. Internazionale Milano players
- Pisa Calcio players
- Racing Club footballers
- S.S. Lazio players
- Sevilla FC footballers
- Vélez Sársfield footballers
- La Liga footballers
- Serie A footballers
- Olympic footballers of Argentina
- Olympic silver medalists for Argentina
- Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- 1991 Copa América players
- 1992 King Fahd Cup players
- 1993 Copa América players
- 1994 FIFA World Cup players
- 1995 Copa América players
- 1998 FIFA World Cup players
- 1999 Copa América players
- 2002 FIFA World Cup players
- FIFA Confederations Cup-winning players
- Argentine football managers
- Racing Club managers
- Estudiantes de La Plata managers
- Calcio Catania managers
- Serie A managers
- People from Buenos Aires
- 1970 births
- Living people
- Argentine expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Italy
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Primera División Argentina players
- Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Expatriate football managers in Italy
- Olympic medalists in football
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