Simeone Fails to Join Zidane and Ancelotti in Elite Three-Final Club

TL;DR

Diego Simeone failed to join an elite group of managers who have reached three UEFA Champions League finals with the same club after Atletico Madrid lost to Arsenal in the semifinals. He remains on two finals, having previously lost to Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016.

Key points

Diego Simeone remains on two Champions League finals.
Atletico Madrid lost to Arsenal in the semifinals.
Simeone was close to joining an elite group of managers.

Mentioned in this story

Diego SimeoneZinedine ZidaneCarlo AncelottiBob PaisleySir Alex FergusonJürgen KloppMiguel Muñoz

Atletico MadridArsenalReal Madrid

Atletico Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone (L) shakes hands with Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane beofre the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on May 2, 2017. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Bob Paisley (Liverpool, 1977, 1978, 1981), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United, 1999, 2008, 2009), Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool, 2018, 2019, 2022), Miguel Muñoz (Real Madrid, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966), Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid, 2014, 2022, 2024), and Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid, 2016, 2017, 2018) – that is the list of managers who have reached at least three Champions League finals with the same club. It is not a long list, and Real Madrid alone accounting for three of them should not come as a surprise to anyone either. Diego Simeone was in a position to join them. Atletico Madrid reached the semifinal second leg against Arsenal on Tuesday, needing a result at the Emirates. They didn’t get it. El Cholo stays on two. In 2014, Atletico came within minutes of beating Real Madrid in Lisbon before Sergio Ramos headed in a 93rd-minute equaliser, and the game went to extra time. Two years later, in , they lost again on penalties. Getting to a third final with Atletico would have put Simeone in genuinely rare company, but Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal had other ideas. The list stays as it is.

Q&A

Why did Diego Simeone not reach a third Champions League final?

Diego Simeone did not reach a third Champions League final because Atletico Madrid lost to Arsenal in the semifinal second leg.

Which managers have reached three Champions League finals with the same club?

Managers who have reached three Champions League finals with the same club include Bob Paisley, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jürgen Klopp, Miguel Muñoz, Carlo Ancelotti, and Zinedine Zidane.

What were the previous Champions League finals Simeone reached?

Diego Simeone reached the Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016, both times losing to Real Madrid.