Why Man Utd have never appointed Diego Simeone as manager despite Atletico Madrid success | Football | Sport

In December 2011, Atletico decided to take a gamble.

Having endured a frustrating campaign under Gregorio Manzano, they decided to appoint Simeone – who had previously worked at Racing, River Plate and Catania.

Atletico were 10th at the time and the Argentine was a risky appointment, unproven and better-remembered for getting David Beckham sent off than anything else during his playing days.

Yet what a decision that proved to be.

Simeone has, throughout his time at Atletico, rebuilt them to become one of the biggest clubs in world football.

He’s won La Liga twice, in 2014 and 2021, ending Real Madrid and Barcelona’s dominance of the top flight in the process.

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Two years later, after the Dutchman had failed to guide the club into the top four and despite winning the FA Cup, Van Gaal was axed.

And links to Simeone immediately arose again.

United, however, had other ideas. Ed Woodward admired Mauricio Pochettino but it was made clear Tottenham wouldn’t let their boss go.

In any case, Jose Mourinho was on the market – having left Chelsea months previously following a torrid start to the campaign.

United decided to do a deal with the devil.

It was acknowledged that Mourinho would ruffle feathers but, as a serial winner, he was exactly what they needed to counter the arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Mourinho won two trophies – three if you count the Community Shield, which he does – before losing his job in December 2018.

And when United wielded the axe that year, they initially planned to go after Pochettino at the end of the season.

What’s more, the Argentine was keen to come.

But then, once again, things changed. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did so well as interim that, in the end, the board decided he was the right man.

Solskjaer lifted spirits and made United attractive to watch again but there was no tactical plan, so it seemed.

Chaos reigned in just about every game.

Yet when it comes to hiring Simeone as his replacement, the Red Devils have no plans to do that.

If he became available, that’s something that could potentially change.

But United are eyeing Pochettino, Ten Hag or Enrique instead. Whether Simeone can show why he’s so elite on Wednesday night ultimately remains to be seen.