How Simeone REINVENTED Atletico Madrid | Explained

In January 2022, we released a video titled 'Has Diego Simeone Taken Atletico Madrid As Far As He Can?'. Only seven months earlier he had guided them to the Spanish title, just their second since 1996, but at the halfway stage of the 21-22 season they languished outside the Champions League qualification spots, 17 points off Real Madrid and conceding as many goals per game as Osasuna and Celta Vigo.

They eventually finished third, albeit with the worst defensive record in the top eight, and by the start of 2023 there were widespread reports that Simeone was planning to step down as Atleti boss after almost 12 years in charge. His efforts to evolve his side into a more exciting attacking outfit had seemingly failed, and a lacklustre exit from the Champions League group stage marked the first time in his tenure that Atleti had crashed out of Europe entirely before Christmas.

But a swift upturn in performances and results saw his side end the 22-23 campaign as the form team in Spain, scoring more goals and losing fewer games than Real Madrid and champions Barcelona in the second half of the season. And that form has largely continued into the new campaign, with Los Colchoneros averaging 3.3 goals a game in their first three fixtures, while a recent surprise defeat to Valencia marked just their third loss since January.

Simeone is yet to sign a new contract, which expires in 2024, but he is once again making a case that no one could do a better job than him at the Metropolitano. So how has he turned things around once again? On today's FD Explained, we're going to Madrid.