Timing makes sense for Diego Simeone to move on from Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone has gotten what he can out of Atletico Madrid, and it's a good time to move on to his next venture.

Ben Lyttleton | May 15, 2017

Timing makes sense for Diego Simeone to move on from Atletico Madrid /

Atletico Madrid went out of the Champions League this week but it went down in style; in Atletico style, fighting, battling and giving Real Madrid an almighty scare in a 2-1 home win. After the game, coach Diego Simeone said he was proud of his players, and happy with the result. On paper, Atletico’s aristocratic neighbors had once again dashed its dream; in reality, Atletico bid farewell to the Vicente Calderon with a match for the ages. Simeone hugged his players on the whistle, and pointedly clapped all four corners of the old ground.

As the final weeks of the season come into view, with the club's third-place finish sealed after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Real Betis, the question now is Simeone’s next move: does he stay, or does he go?

Real Madrid absorbs Atletico's best shot in Calderon farewell, survives to reach UCL final

Simeone’s contract runs to the end of the next season, and he was expected to lead Atletico into its new stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano. But perhaps this might be a good time to say goodbye. Five who started against Real Madrid are over 30, and another two, Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak, are on the transfer wishlist of some of Europe’s best clubs (and Manchester United). The team is 14 points worse off than it was when it won the league back in 2014, and you wonder how much more Simeone can get out of them.

This was a team that had not beaten Real Madrid for 14 years before Simeone turned up. He has helped it win the Europa League, the European SuperCup, the Copa del Rey, La Liga and a Spanish SuperCup.

It also reached two Champions League finals, and a semifinal, in that period. “Simeone has been the most influential coach in the club’s history,” admitted club president Enrique Cerezo.

Soccer Managers: When they were players

Antonio Conte, Chelsea

Antonio Conte celebrates a goal for Juventus against Rangers in the Champions League in 1995.

Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern Munich

AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti, right, goes head-to-head with Napoli's Diego Maradona when both played in Italy in October 1990.

Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid

Argentina's Diego Simeone shakes hands with England's David Beckham after their match at the 2002 World Cup, four years after Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Simeone.

Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone celebrates scoring a goal for Lazio against Vicenza in a Serie A match in April 2001.

Jurgen Klinsmann, U.S. men's national team

Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates after scoring Germany's lone goal in a 1-0 win over Bolivia in a 1994 World Cup match in Chicago.

Jurgen Klinsmann, U.S. men's national team

Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates after scoring the first Stuttgart goal in the 1989 UEFA Cup final second leg against Napoli in May 1989.

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp, right, makes a play on the ball while playing for Mainz against St. Pauli in 1999.

Luis Enrique, Barcelona

Luis Enrique scores for Barcelona against Arsenal in the group stage of the Champions League in October 1999 at Wembley Stadium.

Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham

Argentina's Mauricio Pochettino takes down Engand's Ashley Cole in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup in Japan.

Joachim Low, Germany

Joachim Low, playing for Karlsruher against Werder Bremen in a November 1984 Bundesliga match.

Patrick Vieira, New York City FC

While starring at Arsenal, Patrick Vieira goes head-to-head with a young Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gunners' win over Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City

Pep Guardiola mans the midfield for Barcelona in a February 2001 match against Athletic Bilbao.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City; Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola stands side-by-side with Zinedine Zidane in a Euro 2000 quarterfinal between Spain and France.

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane escapes away from Michael Ballack in Real Madrid's 2002 Champions League final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen, in which Zidane scored the winning goal.

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane led the European All-Stars, while Brazil's Ronaldo led the World All-Stars in a star-studded match in France prior to the 1998 World Cup draw.

Didier Deschamps, France

Didier Deschamps lifts the Champions League trophy with Marseille after captaining the squad to a triumph over AC Milan in 1993.

Ronald Koeman, Everton

Ronald Koeman, front, celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final for Barcelona against Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium.

Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine

AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko, right, is mobbed by Clarence Seedorf and Kaka after a goal against city rival Inter Milan at the San Siro in 2004.

Surely winning five trophies in six years, as Simeone has done, gives you the right to decide when to walk away.

The worry is that if Simeone and Griezmann leave at the same time, added to the issues that moving into a new stadium brings, that Atletico will fall further behind the big two that, for a short while, became a big three.

Published May 15, 2017

BEN LYTTLETON

A journalist, broadcaster and consultant, Ben Lyttleton also wrote the book on PKs with his “Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Penalty Kick.”