Diego Simeone says “it’s only a matter of time” before he manages Lazio

Despite his animated nature on the field, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has a soft side.

Currently managing for one of his favorite clubs to play for, Simeone mentioned there’s another former employer whom he feels a special attachment to and one day he’d like to return to and coach. That club is Italian side Lazio.

Speaking to Italian magazine Lazialità, a bimonthly publication dedicated to Lazio, Simeone said, “Lazio was a fantastic part of my career. It’s one of the places where I spent the most time, I had four wonderful years there. The people always loved me, and slowly I was able to make them appreciate me as a player.”

Simeone was at Lazio from 1999-2003, during which he won the club’s second-ever Serie A title in his first season. Simeone finished his time at Lazio having made 90 league appearances and scoring 15 goals.

“I have many friends in Rome, and I’m sure that one day I’ll coach Lazio, because that’s life,” Simeone said. “It happened when I went to a club like Atletico Madrid, where I had been [as a player] and given my everything to do well, so it could also happen with Lazio. I’m convinced that you go back to those places where you have a past as a player. I behave the same way in football and in life. I will return to Lazio, it’s only a matter of time. Right now I’m very happy at Atletico Madrid, but life is long, and one day I’ll be there, dressed in black as always.”

The 45-year-old Argentinian does not care for your mega-clubs or your giant contracts. He only wants to coach the clubs he loves. Dressed in black as always, of course, because Diego Simeone is a boss.

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