Simeone and Atlético renew vows
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
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Club Atlético de Madrid coach Diego Simeone has agreed a new four-year deal with the Rojiblancos after 15 highly successful months in charge of the Spanish capital outfit.
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Club Atlético de Madrid have rewarded coach Diego Simeone with a new four-year deal that will keep the former Argentinian international at the Rojiblancos helm until summer 2017.
A Liga and Copa del Rey double-winning midfielder with Atlético, the 42-year-old Simeone returned to the club where he spent four full campaigns as a player to replace Gregorio Manzano in December 2011. He was appointed on an 18-month contract, and success in the UEFA Europa League – Atlético's second win in that competition in three seasons – followed, before the UEFA Super Cup was won in August.
Despite their elimination last month in the UEFA Europa League round of 32, Atlético have reached the Copa del Rey final where they will face Real Madrid CF on 18 May. Simeone's team are also on course for UEFA Champions League qualification, sitting second in the Liga, 11 points behind FC Barcelona.
Simeone began his coaching career in Argentina with Racing Club de Avellaneda in 2006, later guiding Club Estudiantes de la Plata and CA River Plate to respective Apertura and Clausura championship triumphs. He also had stints in charge of San Lorenzo de Almagro and Italy's Calcio Catania.
