A Spanish report revealed the identity of the coach who will succeed Argentine Diego Simeone, in order to oversee the technical management of the Atletico Madrid team.
Simeone's contract with the Blancos runs until June 30, 2024, and the Argentine and the club are sure to commit to this period.
According to the Spanish newspaper "Mundodeportivo", Simeone will stay with Atletico until at least the summer of 2024, and he aims in the current season to finish the Spanish league in one of the qualifying positions for the Champions League in the next edition.
The newspaper added that despite the reassurance of Atletico management for the near future, it - and at the same time - does not neglect to think about the distant future, especially as it knows for sure that the post-Simeone phase is inevitably coming.
Gasperini achieved remarkable successes with the Atlanta team (Reuters)
Simeone took over as Atletico Madrid manager in December 2011, meaning that in the summer of 2024 the Argentine will have worked 12 and a half seasons.
Mundo Deportivo confirms that it will not be easy for Atletico management to agree with a coach with the personality, numbers and charisma of Simeone itself, who Luis Aragones considered the best coach in the history of the "Roji Blancos".
According to the newspaper, the candidate to succeed Simeone will be from Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini, a surprising name, and was not among the priorities of the club, according to the newspaper.
Gasperini, the Atlanta coach, was put on the table of Atletico Madrid's management by Andrea Berta, the club's sporting director, who is an expert in the Italian market.
The 65-year-old Gasperini's bid seems to be gaining the confidence of Atletico Madrid officials, given his style of play, his tendency to rush and dock, in parallel with the introduction of attractive football.
Gasperini did not win a trophy during his long coaching journey, during which he oversaw Crotone, Genoa, Inter Milan, Palermo and Atalanta.
Atletico Madrid are eyeing up Gian Piero Gasperini as a replacement for Diego Simeone. (Tmw) pic.twitter.com/uQ9hsIXtce
— Atalanta BC News (@AtalantaBC_News) March 28, 2023
It is noteworthy that Simeone led Atletico Madrid in 618 matches in all competitions, the team won with him in 362 meetings, drew 143 times, and lost 113.
Simeone has achieved great successes for Atletico, most notably winning La Liga twice, representing them in the Europa League and in the European Super Cup, and a single title in the Copa del Rey and represented in the Spanish Super League.
Simeone's Atletico Madrid have also reached the Champions League final twice, but lost them to arch-rivals Real Madrid.