Simeone signs Atletico extension

Diego Simeone has extended his contract with Atletico Madrid, tying him to the club until 2017.

The Liga outfit have had an excellent season to date, and sit second on the table, ahead of local rivals Real Madrid.

The club have also qualified for the Copa del Rey final thanks to a 4-3 aggregate win over Sevilla in the semi-final, setting up a mouth-watering clash against Jose Mourinho’s men in May.

A statement released on Tuesday afternoon by the club said: “Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone have agreed to renew the coach’s contract for the next four seasons.

“The coach, who played as a player in the Rojiblancos in two separate periods (1994-97 and 2003-05), including the historic double-winning time in 1996, returned to Atleti in late December 2011 to take over the first team.

“Simeone won two European titles in his first year as Atletico coach – the Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup – and this season has qualified the team for the final of the Copa del Rey.”

One of the few negatives for Simeone this season was their shock exit from the Europa League in February at the hands on Rubin Kazan in the last 32.

Atleti were the reigning champions in the competition, but appear on course for Champions League qualification this term.

Argentine Simeone started his coaching career with San Lorenzo and then Catania before succeeding Gregorio Manzano in the Atleti hotseat, and has seen his reputation soar while at Estadio Vicente Calderon.

He has been mooted as a surprise replacement for Mourinho across the city at the Santiago Bernabeu, and has also been linked with Inter Milan and Chelsea.