Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have secured the services of manager Diego Simeone after the Argentine put pen to paper on a three-year contract extension.
Simeone led the club to their first La Liga title in almost 20 years last May courtesy of a draw away to Barcelona on the final day of the season.
It marked the culmination of some excellent progress for the club under Simeone’s leadership.
Atletico won the Europa League in 2012 and also enjoyed Copa del Rey success against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu a year later.
Winning La Liga took Simeone’s success to new heights and he almost made it the perfect season when Atletico came within seconds of defeating their city-rivals Real in the Champions League Final in Lisbon.
A last-gasp goal from Sergio Ramos denied Simeone the win and Carlo Ancelotti’s team ran out convincing winners in extra time.
Atletico look set to relinquish their title to Barcelona this season but Simeone believes there is more success ahead.
“I am here because I’m convinced the club will continue to grow,” he said on signing the deal that ties him to the Vicente Calderon until 2020.
There had been speculation linking Simeone with a host of leading European clubs, but Atletico were determined to keep their man.
“Nobody embodies the values of our club more so than Simeone,” said club president Enrique Cerezo.
Atletico face Real Madrid once more in the last eight of the Champions League later this month, with Simeone’s men priced at 18.00 to go one better than last term and lift the trophy.
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