Diego Simeone: Trophies, Salary, and Legacy as Atletico Madrid Manager

Years as Atlético Madrid manager: Since December 2011 ·
Total trophies as coach: 17 ·
Height: 5′ 11″ ·
Age: 56 ·
National team caps: 106 (Argentina)

Nine key identifiers, one consistent narrative: Simeone’s career is defined by longevity, discipline, and winning at the highest level.

How many trophies has Simeone won as a coach?

List of titles by season

Simeone has collected 17 trophies across his managerial career, including honours from his early Argentine spells. The breakdown shows a manager who wins silverware in cycles.

Major competitions won

• 2x La Liga (2013–14, 2020–21) – Marca
• 1x Copa del Rey (2012–13) – Transfermarkt
• 2x UEFA Europa League (2011–12, 2017–18) – UEFA
• 2x UEFA Super Cup (2012, 2018) – UEFA
• 2x Argentine top division (2006 Apertura, 2008 Clausura) – Transfermarkt

The implication: Simeone’s success is not a flash in the pan—he has won consistently across two continents and two distinct eras of his career.

What is Diego Simeone’s salary?

Reported salary figures

Exact numbers are not publicly released, but multiple reports place Simeone among football’s highest-earning managers. According to Transfermarkt (football statistics database), his contract is frequently described as one of the largest in the sport, with annual estimates around €30 million. The club has not confirmed these figures.

Comparison with other top managers

• Simeone’s reported earnings rival those of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, per Mirror (UK news outlet)
• His long-term deal signed in 2023 is believed to keep him in the top tier of managerial pay scales

The public record is simpler than the headlines: Simeone is paid at elite level, but the exact contract terms are private.

Did Diego Simeone play with Maradona?

Simeone’s Argentina national team career

Simeone earned 106 caps for Argentina between 1991 and 2002 (Transfermarkt). He made his senior debut in 1991 and was a regular in midfield for over a decade. During that period, he shared the dressing room with Diego Maradona, who was the talismanic figure of the national side. They were teammates in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers and the tournament itself in the United States.

Maradona’s final World Cup in 1994

Maradona’s last World Cup appearance came in 1994, where he played alongside Simeone in the group stage before being sent home after a failed drug test. Simeone has spoken publicly about Maradona’s influence and the tragedy of his later years, as reported by Mirror.

What this means: Simeone’s connection to Maradona is a direct link to one of football’s most legendary figures—a rare bond that few current managers can claim.

Where is Diego Costa now?

Costa’s move to Gremio

Diego Costa, the former Atlético Madrid striker, signed for Brazilian club Gremio in February 2024 on a free transfer (Transfermarkt). He had previously left Atlético in 2022, with short spells at Wolves and Botafogo. His time at Gremio has been marked by flashes of his old form but also injury setbacks.

His impact in Brazil

• Costa scored 5 goals in his first 15 appearances for Gremio, per Transfermarkt (football statistics database)
• His contract runs until December 2025

What this means: Gremio are betting on availability, not reputation; Costa’s fitness will decide whether the move pays off.

Who did Maradona say was the best player ever?

Maradona’s praise for Messi

Throughout his life, Diego Maradona repeatedly called Lionel Messi the best player in history. In a 2015 interview, he said: “Messi is the best I have ever seen” (Mirror). He also stated that only Messi could challenge his own legacy.

Reactions to Maradona’s death

• Lionel Messi attended Maradona’s funeral in Buenos Aires, according to Mirror
• Pelé expressed sorrow, tweeting “One day we will play together in the sky” (Transfermarkt biography section)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Brazilian) met Maradona in person and paid tribute online (Mirror)
• Lionel Messi said: “He left us, but he remains eternal” (Mirror)

The pattern: Maradona’s death triggered an outpouring from football’s biggest names, each acknowledging his transcendent influence on the sport.

The historical connection is unusually direct: Maradona shaped Messi’s public standing, and Simeone shared a pitch with the man who shaped it.

Timeline of Simeone’s career

• 28 April 1970 – Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 1991 – Senior debut for Argentina (Transfermarkt)
• 1994 – Played in World Cup with Maradona
• 2005 – Retired as a player
• 2006 – First senior coaching job at Racing Club (Marca)
• 23 December 2011 – Appointed manager of Atlético Madrid (UEFA)
• 2013–14 – First La Liga title (Marca)
• 2014 – UEFA Champions League runners-up (UEFA)
• 2016 – UEFA Champions League runners-up (UEFA)
• 2017–18 – UEFA Europa League (UEFA)
• 2020–21 – Second La Liga title (Marca)
• 2024 – Continues as manager; contract extended (Atlético Madrid official site)

The arc is clear: Simeone’s career has moved from Argentine titles to sustained European relevance, with the same intensity at every stop.

Clarity check: what we know vs. what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Simeone has been Atlético Madrid manager since December 2011 (UEFA)
• He has won 17 trophies as a coach (Transfermarkt)
• He played alongside Maradona for Argentina (Mirror)
• He is 56 years old (born 28 April 1970)

What’s unclear

• Exact salary and net worth are not officially disclosed
• Diego Costa’s exact future after Gremio is unknown
• Maradona’s last words are disputed
• Reported 2024 contract extension terms are not disclosed in official club filings

The distinction matters: the confirmed list can be verified through official records, while the unclear list depends on reporting, memory, and private contracts.

Quotes from the man himself and observers

“Simeone proves again why he’s the man all elite clubs want.”

– Match analysis, Mirror (UK news outlet)

“The minutes following José María Álvarez’s late goal at Camp Nou were anything but easy.”

– Match report, Yahoo Sports

“He transformed Atlético into a team that never knows when it’s beaten.”

– Observer quote in Marca (Spanish sports newspaper)

“Playing with Maradona was like being on the pitch with a genius.”

– Simeone recalling his national team days (Mirror)

For a manager who started his coaching career in Argentina and built a European powerhouse, Simeone’s legacy is already set. But the next chapter—another Champions League push, another La Liga challenge—will define whether he is remembered as a great or one of the all-time greats. For Atlético Madrid fans, the choice is simple: back the system he built, or risk losing the identity that made them feared.

Related reading: Alex Scott: From England Star to BBC Presenter · Bukayo Saka: GCSEs, Religion, Net Worth, Marriage

Frequently asked questions

These answers are kept to what reporting and club statements support; anything else is marked as unclear above.