For the vast majority, not necessarily football fans, he is one of the most brilliant and media-savvy leaders of the moment, in a professional activity scenario that he would surely apply in many organizations.
We all have some idea of this club's history, regarding the title drought since '96, the year of the double; and remember the 2001 advertising campaign ad when they were relegated to the Second Division, "Dad, why are we Atleti fans?"; few know the fact that they grew from 20.000 to 45.000 members thanks to a good analysis and the skill of the creatives who knew how to channel the feeling and pride of belonging of this great fanbase; not just any fanbase... this one.
However, the years passed and CHANGE Nothing was happening; the Calderón was desperate, the board was desperate; the players were lost, teetering on the brink of relegation and unhappy with Manzano's lack of substance; they understood that the time had come to call Simeone.
Cholo was already persevering before arriving at the club; “I knew I was going to come back. I just dedicated myself to preparing. I knew they would call me in a difficult moment. It was going to happen. Everything that is happening to me, I wanted it, I sought it out”; and he continues with that attitude… his goal is to coach the Argentine national team. He accepts his personal success serenely and aware of the truth in the words of André Maurois, “many men and women forget in success the qualities of…” prudence, moderation, goodnessthrough which they triumphed."
Since joining in late 2011, he has forged a cohesive unit that, like a sledgehammer, knows nothing but fighting and winning. These men have defied, game after game, the theory of big names and impressive statistics. Last season they finished 3rd in the league, still 24 points behind 1st and 9 behind 2nd, and this year… well, you've seen it. Marden said, "Success is never a gift, but a conquest."
"Success is never a gift, but a conquest."
Marden
In one of his reflections, Cholo commented, “Anxious? Am I anxious, Pepe?” he asked his trusted man. When Pepe answered affirmatively, Cholo was taken aback. “Yes, maybe I am anxious and very critical of myself, but at the same time, I don't feel convinced I'm always right. I have the peace of mind to listen and understand so I can then find a solution.” How he moves around his technical area throughout the match, right? But when a substitution needs to be made, when he talks to “Mono”…?
“Yes, I may be anxious and very critical of myself, but at the same time I don't feel convinced that I'm always right. I have the peace of mind that comes from knowing how to listen and understand so that I can then find a solution.”
"El Cholo" Simeone
One of Cholo's greatest achievements, thanks to his humility, approachability, and communication skills, has been assembling a technical staff of experts in their respective fields, all committed and aligned, with very specific missions; brilliant professionals like Pablo Vercellone, the goalkeeping coach, directly responsible for Courtois' performance, who was never a starter as a player; what about "Profe" Ortega, a motivator, a team builder, always on, anti-relaxation, whose contract states he's a physical trainer; and this other intern, Germán Burgos, first strategist and second coach, Cholo's right-hand man.
Leonardo da Vinci said: "There are three kinds of people: those who see, those who see what is shown to them, and those who do not see." Cholo never needed glasses; he simply came to the conclusion that he didn't have the resources, he needed them and he looked for them... because this type of professional exists... not only in the field of elite football... fortunately.
"There are three kinds of people: those who see, those who see what is shown to them, and those who do not see."
Leonardo da Vinci
In another of his reflections, he says that the word 'comfort' worries him; "I'm more uneasy in a supposedly easy match than in a difficult one. In this sport, you have to be afraid; fear gives you courage. When you're trapped and have no way out, you look for a solution, but if you don't find one, you're at the mercy of something happening to you." Perhaps Cholo intends to give us the key to adopting an attitude of excellence in all our dealings with our clients and, of course, with our collaborators.
Cholo has a winning mentality; his goal is to reach the top, starting from the premise of the collective. He's a squad leader seeking perfection in his "troop" through group achievement, preventing anyone from falling out of tune through solidarity. He says, "I don't believe that a passionate, sentimental guy wouldn't give his all on the field. I don't believe it. There's a communion in the feelings."
How often do many executives and managers consider "leadership" an inherent quality of owning a company, or, less seriously, something unattainable, reserved only for a select few exceptional individuals born with it? However, it would suffice to understand that leading involves bringing out the best in the people on your team, developing their talents, and putting them at the service of the company.
For these executives, the consolation lies in Leonardo's words, "The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding"... and a collaboration channel on our contact phone number.
Juan Carlos Ramírez, partner at epunto
Featured image: © Copyright 2014 Atletico de Madrid