The Argentine manager has been at Atletico Madrid for over 14 years and may be ready for a new challenge, although his love affair with the Spanish club continues.
Diego Simeone leads Atletico Madrid to victory over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final first leg (Image: Getty Images)
Considering Wednesday night’s Champions League result, it would be easy to combine two-zero and two-zero to select Diego Simeone for Liverpool. That’s not the most fanciful cry.
Bookmakers are bookmakers and anything to make extra pounds is offering odds on who will replace Arne Slot, even though he still has the job. And for what it’s worth, I think a Premier League win in 2024/25 should give Slott enough credit to start next season at Anfield, regardless of what happens in the remaining seven weeks of the current campaign.
But even his most ardent supporters would have to admit that the signs don’t look good for Slott. That’s why there are trades happening in the market for Liverpool’s next manager.
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Xabi Alonso is considered to be the favorite, and Simeone is also one of the outsiders with a current record of 20 wins and 1 loss. But the idea isn’t that far-fetched.
Simeone has been manager of Atletico Madrid since December 2011 and it’s really hard to imagine him anywhere else. However, his current contract only runs until the summer of 2027.
Wednesday’s Champions League win at Camp Nou was a great result, but last Sunday’s home defeat to Barcelona left them 19 points behind Hansi Flick’s La Liga leaders. He turns 56 later this month and could be ready for a new challenge.
The executive market could be interesting again this summer. There remains a strong view that Josep Guardiola will end his time at Manchester City after this season, with the Manchester United job theoretically available, even though Michael Carrick may be the right man for the position.
Arne Slott faces increasing pressure after defeat in Paris (Image: (Photo by Dave Winter/Shutterstock))
Slott is clearly under intense pressure and while Liam Rosenoir’s long-term deal is unlikely to stop him from remaining in Chelsea’s mainstay, it doesn’t mean they can end the season on a positive note. Once again, the most realistic long-term scenario for Simeone is to extend his stay in Madrid.
Alternatively, he has expressed interest in returning to Serie A, where he enjoyed much playing time. And his very limited understanding of English has always been seen as a barrier to a move to the Premier League.
But he would still be an attractive addition in a competition that needs the most attractive additions possible. He coached Atlético for 15 and a half years, playing 788 games and recording 466 wins, 170 draws and 152 losses.
After winning the first of two La Liga titles under Simeone from 2013-14 onwards, Atlético qualified for the Champions League every season, but suffered two disastrous defeats to Real Madrid in the three years between 2014 and 2016. But if interested Premier League clubs want further proof of his managerial qualities, they should catch up on the press conference he gave before the 2-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League.
Xabi Alonso is most likely to become Liverpool’s next manager if Arne Slott leaves Anfield (Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Sitting next to the Frenchman, Simeone paid tribute to Antoine Griezmann, who will leave Atlético at the end of this season to join MLS side Orlando City SC. I swear watching the subtitles brings tears to my eyes.
“I want to thank you for your hard work and humility,” he told Griezmann. “You are an admirable figure in a society where young people need role models like you.
“Thank you for the friendship we share and the dedication for knowing how to differentiate the professional relationship between coach and player. I see you first as a player and only then as a friend. I love you, but you know that if you don’t run tomorrow you will lose.”
It was the perfect tribute and gave an insight into why players would run through a brick wall for Simeone. If any of the Premier League’s elite clubs are looking for a new manager this summer, they should be knocking on Diego’s door.
