Diego Simeone Will Return as Atletico Madrid Manager: Latest Comments, Reaction

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed manager Diego Simeone will not leave the club during the summer and will remain with Los Rojiblancos until at least 2017, when his current contract runs out.

"Simeone will stay next season," Cerezo said in an interview with Cadena SER (h/t Reuters, via Eurosport) ahead of the upcoming UEFA Champions League final.

The Argentinian has been in charge of Atletico since 2011, leading the club to a Spanish title, two Champions League finals and a win in the UEFA Europa League. Per the Sun's Paul Jiggins, he was previously linked with Manchester United. 

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He also told Premium Sport (h/t ESPN FC's Ben Gladwell) he's determined to one day coach former club Inter Milan.

Per the report, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who played under Simeone on loan, didn't question whether the club's recent success came down to their coach. Speaking to Onda Cero, he said:

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I remember his words two years ago, 'When you believe and you work it can be done.' 

Simeone knows how to motivate the group very well. Since he arrived Atleti have grown.

Atleti have less talent than Barcelona, Real or Bayern Munich but they still beat you. The unity that Atletico have is very good.

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Atletico lost several key players from their Champions League run two years ago immediately after the season, but the team hardly took a step back, even when Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Courtois all moved to Chelsea.

Two years later, the team has been rebuilt and is again ready to take on rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final. It's an incredible achievement for everyone involved, but Simeone has rightly received most of the plaudits.

Sky Sports' Adam Bates was one of many praising the Argentinian for the culture he has created at the Vicente Calderon Stadium:

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There are many players who deserve credit for Atletico Madrid's rise but having survived the losses of star strikers such as Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa among many others, it seems clear that the key to their sustained success lies in the culture that's been created.

Simeone has shown that this is no freak group of players but something more significant. 

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Simeone was never expected to leave the club this summer, with most of the top managerial positions in Europe already filled. The exception is United, where Jose Mourinho is widely expected to become the next manager, per Sky Sports News HQ.

A move in 2017 seems more likely, as long as Simeone does not sign a new deal with Los Rojiblancos.