Mourinho and Simeone renew rivalry after 12-year wait in Madrid derby

All eyes will be on the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday as Real Madrid visit Atletico de Madrid for the latest Madrid derby in La Liga.

The match will also bring Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone face to face in the technical areas, according to Mundo Deportivo, in a meeting that has taken 12 years to materialise.

Despite both managers having remained prominent figures in football for many years, they have not met since 2014. Mourinho was then in charge of Chelsea, while Simeone led Atletico de Madrid to victory over the Portuguese manager in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Atletico went on to reach the final in Lisbon, where they lost to Real Madrid after extra time.

Mourinho has since managed five clubs – Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica – without encountering Simeone again. Simeone, meanwhile, has continued in his long-standing role at Atletico de Madrid.

Their limited head-to-head history means Sunday’s derby will be only the seventh match between the two managers. Mourinho has won three of their previous six meetings, all while managing Real Madrid. The record also includes one draw and two victories for Simeone.

The most memorable contest between them came in the 2013 Copa del Rey final, when Atletico de Madrid defeated Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. That was Mourinho’s final year of his previous spell at Real Madrid and the result ended Atletico’s 14-year wait for a victory in the derby.

Thirteen years after that cup final and 12 years after their most recent meeting, Mourinho and Simeone will renew their rivalry at the Wanda Metropolitano in their first encounter of the year.

Sunday’s match is one of only two fixtures between the clubs guaranteed at this stage. The return meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu is scheduled for March.

However, the two managers could meet several more times during the season. Their teams may also be drawn against each other in the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup or the UEFA Champions League, increasing the possibility of further chapters in a rivalry that has so far produced six meetings and a decisive 2013 final.