Rumours of Diego Simeone’s arrival in the English top flight have increased in recent days, and it has set pulses racing that the Premier League will hot up even more than it already has.
So far, the league arguably as the best managers in world football plying their trade with Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger all vying to clinch the silver and gold trophy.
However, the current Atletico Madrid boss could scupper all their plans by arriving as early as the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Does he have what it takes to become an EPL kingpin? Let’s take a look at his credentials.
He has won it all (well, sort of)
It’s quite possible that even the clubs with settled managers would swap their manager for Simeone’s practical stylings – after all he has won La Liga, the UEFA Europa League, the Super Cup and plenty more besides.
Sure, the Champions League trophy has eluded his capture, but he has brought them as close as anyone – twice.
His resume is beyond impressive, and although he would still have to overcome the obstacle of adjusting to the rigours of English football, he’s already proven that his managerial prowess extends far beyond the confines of Spain.
Renowned as a world-class coach, his ability to usurp the odds year in, year out has meant that “El Cholo” has managed to carve out an unusually successful tenure at a club like Atletico.
In all likelihood, given a little time, he could do the same in England.
He knows how to get the most out of his resources
Los Rojiblancos are far from an impoverished team, but when it comes to matching the financial might of some of the powerhouse clubs around them they haven’t been able to.
That said, Simeone’s charges have rarely needed to splash enormous amounts of cash on big-wig players because the 46-year-old boss knows how to maximise his players’ potential. He’s done it with Antoine Griezmann, Saul Niguez, Yannick Carrasco, Filipe Luis and plenty of others.
Griezmann is up for the Ballon d’Or award and that’s thanks in large part to the way Simeone has mentored him.
Bring the experienced head honcho into any English side looking to break free from the constraints of financial frugality or small-minded mentality and we would all see an immense difference.
But if he was to take charge of a club like Arsenal, who he has been linked to in recent days, the possibilities would be immense.
He has the mindset to beat absolutely anyone
As already alluded to, the Premier League is chock-full of massive personalities and a few touchline egos so adding “El Cholo” to the mix would certainly make things even more interesting.
Everybody knows he is a fearless character, and he brings a phenomenal level of self-belief to everything he does.
Some of us know him as a cynical figure who does his best to disrupt the flow of matches, has arguments with fourth officials and remonstrates at nearly every decision that goes against him, but that’s only the surface of him.
The other more significant aspect is his committed, hard-working alter ego away from the matchday where he plans meticulously with masterful tactics and counter-attacking brilliance.
Seeing him graft that philosophy onto an English club would be a challenge but he’s never been afraid of pushing against the grain with spectacular results.
Written by Trevor Murray
Follow Trevor on Twitter @TrevorM90
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