Atlético vs Real Madrid: How much money do Simeone and Ancelotti make?
Diego Simeone’s success at Atlético has served to make him the world’s highest paid manager, earning almost the same as Guardiola and Klopp combined.
Atlético Madrid host Real Madrid in the derby on Sunday, a game that has increasingly become more of a level playing field since Diego Simeone took over at the Rojiblancos in December 2011, replacing Gregorio Manzano. The Argentinean, a former player at the club, snapped Madrid’s 14-year unbeaten streak in derby fixtures when he led Atlético to the 2012-13 Copa del Rey title, and since then he has overseen 36 matches against Real Madrid in all competitions, winning 10, drawing 11 and losing 15. That would represent a decent return even without taking into account that Atlético had failed to engineer a single win over their cross-town rivals in 25 games before El Cholo rode to the rescue.
Atlético pay top dollar for Simeone
Little wonder then that Atlético have pulled out all the stops to ensure that Simeone stays exactly where he is. There have been plenty of suitors for the Argentinean over the years, chief among them Inter Milan, where Simeone spent two seasons as a player, the Italian side having made several attempts to lure him back to San Siro. Simeone has admitted he would like to take charge of the Serie A side one day but remains fully committed to Atlético in the meantime and the club have made him the highest paid manager in the world, on a monthly salary of €3.33 million, according to L’Equipe.
Not only is Simeone the highest paid manager in club football worldwide, he also earns almost exactly the same amount as Pep Guardiola (€1.89m) and Jürgen Klopp (€1.49m) combined.
Atlético will consider that money well-spent: in just over a decade at the club, Simeone has delivered eight titles, including two Liga championships, two Europa League titles and a Copa del Rey, as well as leading his side to the Champions League final twice.
Simeone and Ancelotti highest paid in LaLiga
Simeone’s take home is more than three times the amount that Carlo Ancelotti earns at the Bernabéu. The Italian tactician takes home €910,000 per month, again according to L’Equipe, and Madrid may feel that is a bit of a bargain given his on-pitch success. In two spells at the Bernabéu, Ancelotti has won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League twice, leading Madrid to a domestic and European double last season.
Ancelotti is under contract at Real Madrid until 2024 and has said he is likely to retire when he eventually leaves the club, who are probably unlikely to make the same mistake they did in 2015 when the Italian was sacked after a trophyless season. On this occasion, it will be Ancelotti who decides when the time has come.
Simeone’s contract at Atlético also runs until 2024 and the Metropolitano hierarchy will probably look to secure an extension on that before too long. There is reportedly a clause in the Argentinean’s deal that stipulates failure to qualify for the Champions League would automatically trigger a review of the contract but Simeone has delivered on that count every season since 2013-14. In each of Simeone’s 10 full seasons in charge, Atlético have never finished lower than third in LaLiga.
Top 10 highest paid managers in football
* Monthly salary figures according to L’Equipe
1: Diego Simeone (Atlético Madrid, €3.33m)
2: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City, €1.89m)
3: Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool, €1.49m)
3: Antonio Conte (Tottenham, €1.49m)
5: Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus, €1.17m)
6: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid, €910,000)
7: José Mourinho (AS Roma, €777,000)
8: Julian Nagelsmann (Bayern Munich, €666,000)
9: Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan, €620,000)
10: Marcelino (Athletic Bilbao, €500,000)