Diego Simeone has been urged by the Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson.
Regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, the legendary Scot spent 27 years in the hot seat at Manchester United – leading the club to much success at home as well as abroad before retiring in 2013.
Such is the common nature surrounding football clubs at the moment, it would come as a major surprise if any manager – barring Arsene Wenger – is able to match Ferguson’s almost three-decade tenure at one club.
However, Cerezo is hopeful Simeone can do just that.
“We would love if Simeone became Atletico’s version of Ferguson,” Cerezo told Spain’s Zona Mixta.
“We now have a big challenge ahead of us in terms of making our new stadium a fortress but the future is very bright.”
Asked about the recent deal to sign Diego Costa, Cerezo said: “He wanted to come and we wanted to have him back, as did our fans, but not being able to play until January complicated things.
“It is better to drop points early in the league season rather than at the end – Luis Aragones always said league titles were won in the remaining ten matches.”
Appointed in 2011, the Argentine tactician – who recently extended his contract with the Spanish outfit until 2020 – was linked with the managerial vacancy at former club Inter Milan in the summer prior to Luciano Spalletti taking the reigns.
Europe’s longest-serving coaches
Guy Roux (Auxerre 1961–2005)
Willie Maley (Celtic 1897–1940)
Bill Struth (Rangers, 1920–1954)
Ronnie McFall (Portadown 1986–2016)
Ignacio Quereda (Spain women, 1988–2015)
Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United, 1986–2013)
Juan Santisteban (Spain youth, 1988–2008)
Valeriy Lobanovskiy (Dynamo Kyiv 1974–1982, 1984–1990, 1997–2002)
Francky Dury (Zultse VV 1990–1993, 1994–2001, Zulte Waregem 2001–2010, 2011–)
Vittorio Pozzo (Italy, 1929–48)
Mickey Evans (Caersws 1983–2007, 2009–)
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal, 1996-)
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