Diego Simeone: Salary, Trophies, Family & Beckham Incident

There aren’t many managers who can claim to have transformed a club’s entire identity. Diego Simeone, the Argentine at the helm of Atlético Madrid since 2011, has done exactly that — turning a perennial underdog into a European powerhouse with a trademark grit.

Date of birth: April 28, 1970 ·
Managed club: Atlético Madrid ·
Years as manager: Since 2011 ·
La Liga titles: 2 ·
Europa League titles: 2

The table below lays out the core biographical and career facts that define Simeone’s journey from player to manager.

Is Diego Simeone the highest paid manager?

Reports consistently place Simeone among the top earners in football management. According to AS (Spanish sports daily), his current annual salary is approximately $27.7 million, with a net income of around $14 million after tax. Other outlets, including Bolavip (football news site), cite a higher figure of $33.5 million, which would make him the highest-paid soccer manager worldwide.

What is Diego Simeone’s salary?

• Current reported base: $27.7M/year (AS)
• At peak: $36.5M/year before tax (approx. $18M net) (AS)
• Agreed to a pay cut in November 2023 extension for longer contract duration (AS)

How does Simeone’s salary compare to other top managers?

Four managers, one clear leader. Simeone’s earnings outpace those of Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and Carlo Ancelotti, according to analyses by Bolavip citing Front Office Sports and L’Équipe. The gap is especially wide at the net income level because Spain’s tax regime for foreign executives is less punishing than the UK’s top rate.

The implication: Simeone’s compensation reflects not just his trophy haul but his cultural fit. Atlético Madrid’s board sees him as irreplaceable, and they pay accordingly.

What is Diego Simeone’s net worth?

Exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, but based on his playing career (including spells at Inter Milan and Lazio) and his long managerial tenure, estimates from financial trackers range in the tens of millions of dollars. Forbes has not published a verified figure, but his salary alone places him in the top 0.1% of global sports earners.

What happened with David Beckham and Simeone?

One red card that defined a tournament. The 1998 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and England produced one of football’s most replayed moments: David Beckham’s kick at Diego Simeone, followed by a red card.

When did the incident occur?

June 30, 1998, during the second half of the Argentina–England match in Saint-Étienne. Simeone fouled Beckham, and as Beckham lay on the ground, he flicked a leg at Simeone. Referee Kim Milton Nielsen showed a red card to the English midfielder (BBC Sport).

What led to the clash?

Simeone later admitted he deliberately provoked Beckham, knowing the young star’s temperament. “I did what I had to do to win,” Simeone said in a later interview (Wikipedia). England went down to ten men and lost on penalties.

Are David Beckham and Diego Simeone friends now?

Time heals. In 2018, Beckham posted a photo of himself and Simeone together at a restaurant with the caption “Old faces” (BBC Sport). Simeone has also spoken publicly about respecting Beckham as a player. The two now appear on friendly terms, though neither considers the other a close friend.

The pattern: Simeone’s willingness to play mind games on the pitch translated directly into his managerial approach — he builds teams that win through discipline and mental toughness.

How many trophies has Diego Simeone won?

Simeone’s silverware as Atlético Madrid manager is extensive. He has ended the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly, won European trophies, and built a dynasty from a club that had been in the shadow of its richer neighbours.

• 2 La Liga titles: 2013–14, 2020–21 (La Liga)
• 1 Copa del Rey: 2012–13 (AS)
• 1 Supercopa de España: 2014
• 2 Europa League titles: 2011–12, 2017–18 (UEFA)
• 2 UEFA Super Cups: 2012, 2018
• Total: 8 major trophies

How does his trophy count compare to other Atlético managers?

No other Atlético Madrid manager has won more than two major honours in the club’s 122-year history. Simeone’s eight put him in a league of his own. The club’s previous most successful manager, Luis Aragonés, won four.

Which trophies are still missing from his collection?

The one that eludes him: the UEFA Champions League. Simeone’s Atlético reached the final in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to Real Madrid (UEFA). The absence of a Champions League title is the only gap in an otherwise complete set of domestic and continental honours.

How many sons does Diego Simeone have?

Three — and they are all footballers. Simeone and his wife Carla Pereyra have three sons: Giovanni (born 1995), Gianluca (born 1998), and Giuliano (born 2002).

Who are Diego Simeone’s children?

• Giovanni Simeone: Striker, plays for Napoli in Serie A (Transfermarkt)
• Gianluca Simeone: Midfielder, played in the Argentine league
• Giuliano Simeone: Forward, currently with Deportivo Alavés on loan from Atlético Madrid

Are any of his sons footballers?

All three are professional footballers, with Giovanni being the most prominent — he has scored regularly in Europe’s top leagues and represented Argentina at youth level. Giuliano, the youngest, is considered a promising talent and is under contract with Atlético Madrid.

Which teams has Diego Simeone coached?

Simeone’s managerial career began in Argentina and took him through Italy before landing at the club he now defines.

What was Simeone’s first managerial role?

Estudiantes de La Plata in 2006, the club where he played and began his coaching journey. He then moved to River Plate (2008), San Lorenzo (2009), and Italian side Catania (2011) before Atlético Madrid (Wikipedia).

How long has he been at Atlético Madrid?

Since December 2011 — over 13 years. He is the longest-serving coach in Atlético Madrid’s history (AS) and the second-longest-serving active manager in Europe’s top five leagues.

What is his contract length?

His current contract runs until June 30, 2027 (AS). He signed a four-year extension in November 2023 that reduced his salary but secured his long-term future.

Timeline

• 1970: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Wikipedia)
• 1998: Infamous clash with David Beckham at World Cup (BBC Sport)
• 2006: Began managerial career at Estudiantes
• December 2011: Appointed manager of Atlético Madrid (AS)
• 2013–14: Won La Liga title (La Liga)
• 2020–21: Won second La Liga title
• 2027: Current contract expires

Quotes

“I did what I had to do to win.”

— Diego Simeone, on the Beckham incident (Wikipedia)

“He’s a manager who gets the best out of average players. That’s his true genius.”

— Football analyst Guillem Balagué (BBC Sport)

Simeone’s Atlético Madrid project is a case study in sustainable winning. For the club’s board, the decision to back him long-term has paid off in trophies and identity. For rival clubs in La Liga, the challenge remains: how to break down a team that defends as a unit and strikes with precision. For Simeone himself, the final frontier — Champions League glory — still beckons. For Atlético Madrid, the choice is clear: ride with Simeone until 2027, or risk losing the culture that made them champions.

For a deeper look at Simeones salary and contract details, the article provides a comprehensive breakdown of his earnings and personal life.

Frequently asked questions