Why Simeone going to Chelsea should sound alarm bells at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger will turn 67 next season while most of his rivals will still be in their 40s
Another of Europe's brightest young coaches appears to be on his way to the Premier League with reports in Spain saying Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has agreed to become Chelsea manager next season.
If the Argentine does sign a £9m-a-season deal with the Blues, as has been suggested, he will become the third elite European coach to arrive in England in the space of 12 months, following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
Simeone, a combative midfielder best known to English fans as the player who got David Beckham sent off at the 1998 World Cup, broke the domination of Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. During his four years in the Spanish capital, he has won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Europa League, as well as taking his side to the Champions League final in 2014.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His arrival at Stamford Bridge would be a coup for Chelsea, says Metro, among others.
It would add to the sense of anticipation ahead of next season, but should also sound alarm bells at Arsenal, particularly if the Gunners fail to win the title this year.
Next season, Arsene Wenger will celebrate 20 years in charge of the London side - but the landmark also serves as a reminder that the Gunners need to address the issue of succession. Wenger turns 67 in October and that makes him not only the longest-serving, but also the oldest manager in the league.
In contrast, Simeone will be 46, Liverpool boss Klopp 49 and Manchester City manager Guardiola 45. Manchester United are likely to be led by Jose Mourinho, who is still only 53, or Ryan Giggs, who, at 42, will be 24 years younger than Wenger.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is a youthful 43 and if he inspires Spurs to finish above Arsenal for the first time in 21 years, it will send a very clear message to the Emirates.
Claudio Ranieri, 65 in October, has worked wonders with Leicester City but even if they win the title, his success will be seen as a flash in the pan.
Of England's biggest clubs, all but Arsenal will have managers under in their 40s or early 50s next season, each looking forward to building on solid starts to their careers. The Gunners, on the other hand, are being led by someone now perceived by many as a stubborn old man from a different generation.
Even more worryingly for Arsenal, as their present coach heads towards retirement, many of those young managers once touted as replacements are now in charge of the club's Premier League rivals, while Wenger's chances of a late-career flourish look slim.
"With a handful of exceptions, most notably Alex Ferguson, managers seem to be limited to a decade of sustained achievement at the very peak of the game," said Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian earlier this month, and Arsenal have not dominated the English game since the demise of The Invincibles.
"As Arsenal have stuttered recently, it feels as though the past decade of Wenger's management has been called into question," he wrote.
There have already been claims that his training methods have contributed to the Gunners' continuing injury woes, while his once innovative approaches to diet and scouting are now commonplace.
At last year's annual general meeting, Wenger told shareholders: "It is very important to me that I leave the club in the shape that the guy who comes after me can do better."
If the next guy is up against Simeone, Klopp, Guardiola and Mourinho or Giggs, Arsenal should start grooming him immediately.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published