Diego Simeone is a jewel of La Liga. The second longest-serving active manager in Europe’s top five leagues, the Argentine is now in his 15th season with Atlético Madrid. His tactics, psychological warfare, and unorthodox approach to the game have restored Atleti’s place among Spain’s “Big Three.”
In light of his touchline antics during yesterday’s SuperCopa de España semi-final / Madrid derby, we look back at Cholo Simeone’s biggest moments of pure sh… shenanigans during his managerial career.
1. Pot Calling the Kettle Black
Manchester City 0–0 Atlético Madrid (agg. 1–0)
Etihad Stadium – April 13, 2022
The 2022 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal at the Etihad was a battle of extremes: Pep Guardiola’s possession machine versus Simeone’s impenetrable fortress. Atlético trailed 1–0 on aggregate coming into the fixture and desperately needed to score from minute 1.
I think it was one of the rare occasions when I saw Diego Simeone taste his own medicine. Manchester City dominated possession (73%) but didn’t score. As the game waned on, City sat deeper and deeper, frustrating Los Rojiblancos at their own game. Atlético Madrid eventually lost their collective head.
Stefan Savić pulled Jack Grealish’s hair, Felipe lunged at Phil Foden and got sent off, and Ángel Correa collapsed theatrically to stop play and halt City’s momentum. Diego Simeone, who never is one to shy away from making his feelings clear from the touchline, was shown a red card for dissent and ejected from the match.
The best part of this entire episode was when Simeone, beaten at his own game, accused Manchester City of “time-wasting” and not playing proper soccer. This from the manager whose team committed 23 fouls to City’s 7.
2. The Birth of Simeonismo
Atlético Madrid 1–0 Barcelona
Vicente Calderón – April 9, 2014
The world first witnessed Simeone’s full tactical theater in 2014 when Atlético Madrid eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League. The first leg had finished 1-1 and Atleti had the away goal advantage. They started off flying, creating three great chances in the first 20 minutes. Koke had already scored the opener through one of these chances at the 5th minute mark of the game.
With the aggregate lead a narrow 2-1 on and 85 minutes to go in the tie, Simeone decided he had enough. For the rest of the game, he made his team sit in the lowest of blocks that frustrated the possession obsessed Barcelona. Barcelona completed 787 passes yet managed only three shots on target while Simeone’s men sat deep with only 29% possession in the game. Koke’s sole goal turned out to be the decider.
In the post-match press conference, Cholo Simeone greeted the press with a a quiet “mission accomplished” smile written all over his face.
3. The “Cojones” Celebration
Atlético Madrid 2–0 Juventus
Wanda Metropolitano – February 20, 2019
If not for Cristiano Ronaldo, Simeone would have a far fuller trophy cabinet. So when the 5 time Ballon D’or winner left Spain, Simeone thought his problems were over. But Ronaldo returned to haunt Simeone with Juventus in 2019, although not in the first leg of that tie.
Because this time, Simeone was prepared. He set his team up in a compact 4-4-2 that suffocated Juventus despite having 62% possession, conceding just four shots on target. When José María Giménez scored the opener for Atlético Madrid in the 78th minute, the Argentine manager showcased a bizarre reaction. As the ball hit the net, Simeone exploded and turned to his home crowd behind the bench. Many Atleti fans were still upset about a trophyless 2018 season and were giving flak to Simeone. Towards them, he thrust both hands toward his crotch in a crude, unmistakable grab, and pumped his fists to emphasize the point that “they have balls” (“¡Tenemos cojones!”)
“I did it from the heart,” he explained later. UEFA fined him about $22,000.
Ronaldo returned the favor by famously repeating the gesture in the return leg after his hat trick knocked Atleti out.
4. The Free-Kick Exploit
Arsenal 4–0 Atlético Madrid
Emirates Stadium – October 22, 2025
The most recent of his sh*thosuery episodes occurred just a few weeks ago in the opening match of the Champions League.
During a first-half free-kick in the match against Arsenal, Simeone noticed the referee István Kovács became distracted dealing with other players in the penalty box after setting players in the wall. He quickly shouted at his players in the wall to shuffle closer to the ball, reducing the legal distance. The move went unpunished, but many people who noticed it acknowledged that the stunt was peak Simeone-style ball.
5. The Art of Creating Bastards
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, now at Manchester City, once credited Simeone for reshaping his mentality. He recalls how his character completely evolved under the Argentinian manager. At Villarreal, Rodri recalled playing with a calm and pacifist personality. But his single season in 2018-19 under Simeone completely changed his outlook toward the game. When Rodri arrived in Madrid, Simeone asked him to throw his previous personality out the window.
“At Villarreal, I was good with the ball but soft. Simeone taught me to be the bad guy, to make rivals miserable for 90 minutes.”
Rodri
That season hardened Rodri into a ruthless competitor. A rejuvenated bastard Rodri then joined Manchester City in 2019, winning a historic treble and becoming the best player in the world.
Even Before the Bench
Simeone was a master of mischief even before his coaching days. In his first stint with Atlético Madrid In the mid-90s, he embarrassed Barcelona’s captain José Mari Bakero during a heated clash against Barcelona. Simeone juked both José and Albert Ferrer, nutmegging the former twice before pausing to clap his own brilliance, then smashing a long pass downfield.
Peak Simeone.
The “Antics” We Were Referring to…
There were rumors back in November that this might be Simeone’s final season with Los Rojiblancos but we sincerely hope they are false.
He redefined the rivalries in La Liga and rebuilt Atlético into the third best team in Spain again. Through his mind games and dark arts, he showed the soccer world that discipline and defiance can coexist. We can only thank Simeone for all the entertainment, and hope that his brand of beautiful madness follows him wherever he goes.
Abhik Deb is an accomplished sports journalist and content creator, renowned for his innovative approach to digital storytelling within the football world. With a Master’s degree in Sports Journalism and Communications from Universidad Europea de Madrid, Abhik brings a sophisticated understanding of both traditional journalistic tenets and contemporary digital media strategies to his work. His professional journey includes a significant tenure as a multimedia journalist at Real Madrid C.F., where his contributions spanned video editing, scriptwriting, and on-camera presenting. Notably, Abhik made history as the first Indian to record a live stand-up from the hallowed Santiago Bernabéu pitch for Real Madrid TV, underscoring his pioneering spirit and influential presence. A specialist in La Liga and Spanish football, Abhik excels at captivating audiences through viral football content and insightful documentary-style videos. His natural ability to blend rigorous journalism with creative digital storytelling is evident in his independent fan channel, ‘LaLigaVic,’ where he cultivates a growing audience through engaging, original coverage of Spanish football culture. Abhik’s proficiency extends to social media strategy and audience engagement, crucial skills in today’s digital landscape. You can explore more of Abhik’s work on Hooligan Soccer and Muckrack. Connect with Abhik on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to follow his continuous dedication to delivering high-quality, authoritative sports content.
