Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has extended his current deal with the club until 2020. An official announcement is expected later today.
The agreement includes the Argentine himself and his entire staff, made up of assistants German ‘Mono’ Burgos and Juan Vizcaino; physios Oscar Ortega, Carlos Menedez and Ivan Rafael Dian Infante; goalkeeper coach Pablo Vercellone and his personal spokesperson Jose Luis Pasques.
As part of his final negotiations, Simeone made it a priority to ensure his staff remained intact because of their importance and understanding of his philosophy.
The club has also made the manager the highest paid member of its squad. According to reports, Simeone will make £4.5 million per season, which is more than Koke (the highest paid player in the squad) and new signings: Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres.
In the rest of Europe only five other managers will earn more than Simeone: Pep Guardiola (£8.8m), Jose Mourinho (£7.4m), Arsena Wenger (£6m), Carlo Ancelotti (£5.5m) and Manuel Pellegrini (£4.8m).
In just over three years with Simeone and his staff in charge, Atletico Madrid have won a Europa League title, the UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey and a La Liga title – while also finishing as Champions League runners-up last season.
Most experts believe the manager is creating a footballing dynasty similar to the one achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Atletico recently slipped to fourth place on the La Liga table. However, Los Colchoneros have advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie on penalties. They are set to face Real Madrid in the next round of the knockout stages.
Simeone has been the most wanted managerial property in world football, with the Argentine previously linked with moves to Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in recent months.
Reports have surfaced saying the manager was offered lucrative deals to take charge of City and PSG next season. However, Simeone has elected to stay with the club and continue the project he started in Madrid back in December 2011.
