Diego Simeone is one of the most-respected head coaches in Europe and Manchester United have been tipped to be his next club if he departs Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone hasn't ruled out an exit from Atletico Madrid(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Diego Simeone's previous comments on his career have left the door open to a move to Manchester United at the end of the season.
United brought in former midfielder Michael Carrick to take charge until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim's sacking at the start of the month. He got off to the perfect start last weekend with a 2-0 win over city rivals Manchester City.
A permanent appointment for the 44-year-old hasn't been ruled out, but United are expected to appoint a full-time successor when the current season ends.
A long list of managers have been linked with taking over at Old Trafford. Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Oliver Glasner have all been mentioned as possible candidates.
Simeone is another manager linked with a move to England. The Atletico Madrid boss, 55, has been tipped with a move away from La Liga for a number of years now, with his current contract due to expire next summer.
It's not yet clear whether Simeone will leave Atletico this year or if he would be open to taking over the reins at United. However, the former Argentina international has made it clear that he isn't opposed to moving on with his career.
Speaking before Atletico's Super Cup semi-final against Real Madrid, Simeone said: “As coaches, we never close doors, because we understand that football and life can change constantly. So it’s clear that from where I am now, I’m not closing any door.”
United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville have both mentioned Simeone as a contender for the job at Old Trafford. "I've said it for years, I'd like to see Atletico Madrid's Simeone, I'd like to see him go in there," Keane said toward the back end of last year. "I know his mate's [Andrea Berta] gone to Arsenal, but I think he would just create havoc, a good havoc.
"I think he'd rock up to that place and say, 'This is how you do things.' No guarantee, but I'd just like to see his personality, and his track record."
Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone has been Atletico Madrid boss since December 2011(Image: Getty Images)
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When Amorim was sacked over two weeks ago, Neville brought Simeone's name back up. "It would be wrong of me to name someone," he said. "There are coaches that I like, I like Tuchel, I like Simeone at Atletico Madrid, I like Valverde, I think he’s a fantastic coach.
"But are there really opportunities for Manchester United to go out and get these coaches? I don’t know. I have no idea. But the most important thing is Manchester United’s scouting department, recruitment department, sporting director, have got their eyes open and have seen this coming and basically have got an idea of what they need to do now and come up with that.
"It’s been a real struggle for all these good managers and coaches to come to Old Trafford and try get the results the club demand. We can’t keep getting it wrong we have to get it right at some point."
However, Jamie Carragher highlighted the struggle United would face with Simeone after deciding to appoint Amorim and then attempting to change his style. "The Simeone one is really interesting," he said.
"We’ve just had a chat about DNA. But it’s interesting that Roy, who loves the club, and Gary, the same, have both mentioned Diego Simeone at different points in the last 4 or 5 months, that they wouldn’t mind seeing him at Man United.
"That goes away from a club's DNA because he is a defensive coach. That’s what I go back to in this country, we pick managers on the success they have at clubs.
"You can’t then ask a manager because he’s successful, like [Ruben] Amorim and asking him not to play three at the back, you’re getting him from here to get what he did there here. You can’t then ask him to change."
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