Reflecting on Diego Simeone’s Legacy: Two Decades Since Retirement

omidbasir- The famous tango lyric “Twenty years is nothing” immortalized by the legendary Carlos Gardel resonates deeply in the context of Diego Pablo Simeone, another iconic figure in football. On February 17, 2006, Simeone, known affectionately as Cholo, brought an end to his career as a professional footballer, leaving behind a legacy infused with fervor and dedication.

In a memorable scene from the award-winning film “El secreto de sus ojos,” Guillermo Francella, portraying Pablo Sandoval, encapsulates the essence of being a football fan: “You can change everything—your face, your home, your family, your girlfriend, your religion, even your God. But there is one thing you cannot change: your passion!” This sentiment rings true for fans of any football club across the globe.

Simeone began his professional journey in 1987, donning the colors of Vélez Sarsfield before moving to Europe with Pisa. His fervent support for Racing Club always lingered in his mind, and, in 2005, he returned to Argentina after his second stint with Atlético Madrid to join La Academia. His final season saw him play 38 matches, scoring three goals against Central, Colón, and Arsenal.

On that fateful February day in 2006, Simeone played his last match in sweltering heat as Racing Club faced Estudiantes, with MARCA reporting firsthand on the match. Estudiantes, under the guidance of Jorge Burruchaga—the scorer of Argentina’s World Cup-winning goal in 1986—hosted the game at the Centenario Stadium in Quilmes due to a dispute regarding their new stadium.

At the start of the Clausura 2006, Racing was in a precarious position, haunted by the threat of relegation. Following the dismissal of coach Fernando ‘Teté’ Quiroz, Alberto Fanesi took over as interim coach for what would be his final match. Although Simeone planned to retire at the end of the season, he chose to expedite his departure from the pitch.

As he took to the field wearing the captain’s armband and his iconic number 14, accompanied by his sons Giovanni, Gianluca, and Giuliano, Gustavo Ortiz from MARCA captured a poignant moment in history. The match ended with Estudiantes defeating Racing 2-1, with goals from José Sosa and Lugüercio, while Pipa Estévez netted for Racing.

In the hours leading up to the match, Simeone expressed to MARCA, “I retire with the shirt that made me fall in love with football. Winning or losing doesn’t matter to me; my dream was to leave the pitch in the best possible way, giving everything I had from my first match to my last.” He even received a call from then-President Néstor Kirchner while at the Amérian Park Hotel, where the team was staying.

With 563 club appearances, 87 goals, and 34 assists, alongside 106 matches, 11 goals, and 11 assists with the Argentine national team, Simeone’s transition from player to coach was swift and remarkable, occurring within less than 24 hours. Today, two decades later, we reflect on the extensive journey of Simeone as a coach. However, that is a narrative for another time.