Diego Simeone is perhaps best known for his current role as the manager of Atletico Madrid, a position he has held since 2011.
Under his leadership, Atletico Madrid has enjoyed considerable success, including winning La Liga in 2014 and 2021, the Copa del Rey in 2013, and reaching the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016.
He also had a relatively successful playing career, playing for clubs such as Velez Sarsfield, Lazio, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid. He won numerous titles as a player, including La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 1996, the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan in 1998, and the Serie A with Lazio in 2000.
Nicknamed “El Cholo”, the 52-year-old Argentine is widely regarded as one of the best football managers in the world.
But football is just one part of his life, albeit a big one, but still, just a part of his whole life.
Born in Buenos Aires, Simone is also a family man with a personal life.
My parents taught me values, respect, order, and everything that has helped me in life. That includes my ruggedness on the pitch. They were very noble.
Growing up, Simone met Carolina Baldini, a model in the country, and also Simeone’s childhood sweetheart.
The duo met when Carolina was only 19 and began dating, two years after which, the pair got married in 1994.
The marriage saw the end of her modelling career and one year later, the couple welcomed their first son – Giovanni Simeone.
The couple had two more children after him, both boys, named Gianluca and Giuliano.
Guess football runs in the genes, as all three sons found their way into the sport.
Giovanni is the most high-profile of all, playing for Napoli (on loan from Hellas Verona). Gianluca and Giuliano play for Xerex Deportivo and Zaragoza (on loan from Atletico) respectively.
Giovanni, the oldest of them all, is aged 27, while Gianluca is 24 and Giuliano is 20.
With so much focus on the boys, it is easy to forget that Simeone has two daughters as well.
However, they do not share the same parentage as the boys.
The Madrid manager parted ways with Carolina between 2009 and 2010 after rumours of unfaithfulness from both parties.
Around 2014, the rumour mill was abuzz with news that Simeone was involved with Carla Pereyra, who is 16 years younger than the man.
Simeone and Pereyra held a secret marriage ceremony in 2019, but not before welcoming two daughters – Francesca and Valentina.
Francesca is the elder daughter, born on 30th September 2016.
Simeone announced the arrival on Instagram with the caption: The greatest thing in life, love for our children! Welcome, Francesca.
Three years later, in 2019, the as-of-yet-last Simeone’s child was born – Valentina.
Simeone welcomed the daughter an astonishing 23 years after he first welcomed a son in the world.
At 52, it is unclear if Diego plans to have more children anytime soon. It is anyone’s guess, but we don’t think so.
There is already a generational gap between his eldest son and his youngest daughter. Any more and he might as well become a grandfather to his own children.