Top facts about Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina manager

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (Pujato, province of Santa Fe, 16 of May of 1978) is a former footballer who played as a defender and midfielder and is currently coach of the Argentina team.

Lionel Scaloni’s age

is 43. Here you can find out the most important facts about Lionel Scaloni, the great coach.

Scaloni is an Argentine retired footballer, and the current manager of the

. As a player of wide range, he operated as a right back or right midfielder.

The first fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he developed his professional career mainly in Deportivo de La Coruña, a club with which he won a Spanish league, a Copa del Rey and two Super Cups in Spain.

He amassed totals of 258 games and 15 goals over 12 seasons in La Liga with three teams. He also played several years in Italy, with Lazio and Atalanta.

Lionel Scaloni was first named as caretaker head coach of Argentina. Lionel Scaloni replaced Jorge Sampaoli after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where the Albiceleste were eliminated in the last 16 by eventual champions France.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that national men's head coach Lionel Scaloni will remain in the position until at least till the 2022 World Cup.

In April 2019, he was run over while cycling in Calvià. Some media initially reported him to be in serious condition, but he was discharged a few hours later.

Top facts about Lionel Scaloni:

An important

fact about Lionel Scaloni

is that he spent the most of his professional career in Spain with Deportivo, appearing in 258 games and scoring 15 goals in 12 seasons with three different clubs in La Liga. He also spent time in Italy, playing for Lazio and Atalanta.

Lionel Scaloni early life

Regarding

Lionel Scaloni’s childhood

, it should be mentioned that he was born in the city of Pujato, in the province of Santa Fe. Together with his brother Mauro, two years older than him, he took his first steps at the Club Sportivo Matienzo de Pujato, 33 kilometers from Rosario.

Speaking about

Lionel Scaloni’s parents

, it is worth mentioning that his father, Ángel, who trained him there and highly respected for his hard character that undoubtedly influenced his personality, placed them in Newell's Old Boys in 1994 and then in Estudiantes de La Plata in 1996.

Lionel Scaloni personal life

Lionel Scaloni has married to Elisa and has two children, Ian and Noah. Mauro Scaloni, Scaloni's elder brother, played for Deportivo but never advanced past the club's reserve squad.

He was hit by a car while riding in Calvià in April of this year. He was first believed to be in critical condition by the media, but he was released a few hours later.

Lionel Scaloni professional career

Lionel Scaloni began his career in the Argentine Primera División with local club Newell's Old Boys and then Estudiantes de La Plata, before joining Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña in December 1997 for 405 million pesetas.

After making his debut for Argentina on 30 April 2003 in a friendly match with Libya, Scaloni was a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, taking the place of veteran

who also played as a right-wingback.

His only appearance of the tournament was the 2–1 extra time round of 16 win against Mexico on 24 June 2006 at the Zentralstadion, which he started and finished.

Lionel Scaloni club playing career

A notable fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he made his debut in the Argentine First Division in 1995, playing for the Newell's Old Boys club, after a brief stay where he played 12 games, and was bought in 1996 by Estudiantes de La Plata, the club where he remained until 1997, when he was bought by Deportivo de La Coruña.

Deportivo de La Coruña

There he began a 17-year career in the Spanish league and in European football, although his debut on January 4, 1998 against Real Sporting de Gijón could not have been worse.

His expectations were high, but within three minutes of his entry through the right-back Armando, he had to leave because Cameroonian goalkeeper Songo'o was expelled and coach José Manuel Corral brought in the substitute goalkeeper, Rufai in his place.

With the Coruña club he won a league championship and a Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups, in addition to reaching the semifinals of the Champions League in 2004. He was the captain of the team on many occasions and an idol by playing 301 games and 8 seasons.

West Ham

Despite his successful career at the Coruña club, in 2006 he preferred to be loaned to West Ham in which he played the rest of the season as a starter, just half a year before

and

arrived from Corinthians.

This sudden departure was motivated by a change in the Depor coaching staff led by Joaquín Caparrós who did not have much sympathy for the players and Argentines.

Racing de Santander

An important

fact about Lionel Scaloni

is that he emigrated to Racing de Santander where he signed on September 13, 2006 and was managed by Miguel Ángel Portugal for a season, playing 31 games, all of them as a starter.

Lazio

On June 30, 2007, he signed for five seasons with Lazio and was part of the 2007/08 season.

Mallorca

But on January 25, 2008, he was loaned to

for a season and a half.

Atalanta

Finally in January 2013, he signed with Atalanta BC, until his permanent retirement in June 2015.

Lionel Scaloni international playing career

With the Argentine U-20 National Team, he won the World Cup in Malaysia in 1997, a team that was directed by José Pekerman. For this achievement the contribution of Scaloni was fundamental, converting the goal that opened the scoring of the match against the Brazilian team.

On seven occasions he wore the shirt of the Argentine National Team, debuting on April 30, 2003 in the Argentina vs. Libya. He was part of the squad that played the World Cup in Germany, playing one game.

Lionel Scaloni coaching career

Before retiring, Lionel already knew that he wanted to be a technical director, so he started the course and training during his last stage as a player. His first job was in the youth teams of Mallorca, while he waited for Jorge Sampaoli to fulfill his promise to add him to his coaching staff.

After the resignation of Jorge Sampaoli to the senior team after the early departure of the Argentine team in the round of 16 of the 2018 Soccer World Cup, Scaloni asked to remain in the AFA in the youth area, and was appointed along with Pablo Aimar to lead the U-20 who would participate in the traditional L'Alcudia tournament.

A notable fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he managed to qualify as champion with the sub-20 in the international tournament of L'Alcudia 2018 after beating

2-1 (with goals from Facundo Colidio and Alan Marinelli, the latter in overtime).

His field assistant, Pablo Aimar, played a prominent role in the preparation for the tournament. Thus, Scaloni (with Aimar and Walter Samuel as his field assistants) would temporarily assume the position of coach of the senior team for an indefinite period of time, beginning his commitments on the first double date of FIFA matches after the World Cup in September, against the national teams of Guatemala and Colombia on a tour of the United States.

An important

fact about Lionel Scaloni

is that he stood out for beginning a process of generational renewal in the senior team, summoning young players with little experience wearing the Albiceleste shirt, and leaving out those with the longest career in the national team, such as

, Éver Banega, Gonzalo Higuaín, or

, who would decide not to cite again until further notice.

On Saturday, September 8, the renewed team led by Scaloni was measured against Guatemala at the Memorial Coliseum in the city of Los Angeles.

Scaloni would line up an offensive scheme of greater intensity in the first half, although in the complement, he decided that the team played more at possession and recovery of the ball, which resulted in it not creating as many dangerous situations as in the first forty five minutes.

In his debut as coach, Scaloni would obtain a comfortable 3-0 victory against his Central American counterpart (with goals from Gonzalo Martínez (from penalty, at 27 '), Giovani Lo Celso (at 35'), and Giovanni Simeone (at 44 '), showing a clear dominance against a lower-ranking rival.

Three days later, on Tuesday, September 11, the Argentine national team would continue its excursion on North American soil facing Colombia, which had summoned all its figures for this particular friendly (with a notable absence of James Rodríguez due to an injury).

Scaloni, meanwhile, would make several modifications to his starting line-up (only leaving some of those who had participated in the previous game) in order to film and evaluate all the players called up.

Scaloni would continue his commitments as technical director the following month, where he continued to command the national team in their meetings that month against Iraq and Brazil on a tour of Saudi Arabia.

Reserving his most outstanding players for the so-called "Superclassic of the Americas", on Thursday, October 11, the Argentine team faced Iraq, in which Scaloni would test a variety of formations, as well as players who had not had the opportunity to go out on the court in the previous round of friendlies.

La Albiceleste would achieve their second victory under the tutelage of Scaloni, achieving a resounding 4-0 victory (with goals from

at 18 ', Roberto Pereyra at 53', Germán Pezzella at 82 ', and Franco Cervi at 90 + 1').

Four days later, he had his most difficult challenge to overcome so far, facing Brazil, which would have all its stars and had kept its World Cup base for the 100th set with Argentina. The coach would bet on a fixed defensive formation, ordering that his team should only go against the opponent's mistakes, but the blue and white would suffer their first defeat with Scaloni in command when they fell to their nemesis by 0-1.

In November, the national team played a friendly match with the national team of Mexico in local territory, sponsored by Adidas. Scaloni would once again bet on a balanced approach in both games against the tricolor team, giving greater importance to the recovery of the ball, but not to the possession of it.

The first match was played in the province of Córdoba at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium, which would end 2-0 for the albiceleste with goals from Ramiro Funes Mori (at 44 ', assisted by

) and Isaác Brizuela against (at 83 ', trying to avoid a pass from Renzo Saravia that would have ended in a goal by Mauro Icardi ), and another in the province of Mendoza, at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium (2-0 again, with goals from Icardi at 2 ', and Dybala at 87', with assistance from Giovanni Simeone ), ending with Argentina being crowned champion of the trophy in dispute (Adidas Cup), and thus giving Scaloni's interim position in the Albiceleste as concluded.

During his interim term, Scaloni's team played six friendly matches, added four victories (against Guatemala, Iraq, and Mexico), one draw (against Colombia), and one defeat (against Brazil), achieved eleven goals in favor and so only one against, showing enormous defensive power.

He made the debut of sixteen players and summoned forty-one players in total, with only four of them having more than twenty games wearing the Albiceleste shirt (Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Ramiro Funes Mori and Erik Lamela), and only called ten who were in the World Cup in Russia (Franco Armani, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gabriel Mercado, Otamendi, Maximiliano Meza, Marcos Acuña, Paulo Dybala, Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Pavón, and Eduardo Salvio).

In turn, several players managed to score their first international goals with the Albiceleste, being in this situation Gonzalo Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso, Giovanni Simeone (all three against Guatemala), Lautaro Martínez, Germán Pezzella, Franco Cervi (all three against Iraq), Mauro Icardi and Paulo Dybala (both against Mexico), all scoring at least one goal under Scaloni.

The marked absence of Lionel Messi and other renowned footballers belonging to the previous generation was also highlighted.

On November 29, Scaloni was ratified as the definitive technical director of the Argentine team by the president of AFA, Claudio Tapia, who confirmed him in command of the major until the Copa América 2019, with an option to extend the contract to the Copa America 2020 to achieve good results in the 2019 edition.

In his first tournament leading the Albiceleste, the Copa América 2019, he started with a poor performance, suffering a 2-0 defeat against Colombia 10 and achieving (after the early Paraguayan goal) a difficult 1-1 draw against Paraguay.

Two painful presentations that were about to leave them eliminated, and where the coach changed the scheme several times, exchanging Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María, Lautaro Martínez and other trials to surround

, the latter playing below the expected level although with a higher commitment than previously seen.

On the last date of the group stage, they achieved a 2-0 victory against Qatar (Lautaro Martínez 4´, Sergio Agüero 82´) that allowed them to advance to the quarterfinals, in a suffering but valid way.

In the quarterfinals he faced Venezuela (Lautaro Martínez 10´, Giovanni Lo Celso 74´) qualifying for the semifinals of the continental tournament.

In the semifinals, he played with Brazil in Belo Horizonte. There the Albicelestes completed their best game and had the best chances (Argentina tried 10 more shots than Brazil (14-4), including two at the sticks), although they ended up losing 2-0.

Finally, the Albiceleste achieved third place in the tournament, after defeating Chile 2-1 with goals from Sergio Agüero (12 ') and Paulo Dybala (22') for the Albiceleste.

(59 ') discounted a penalty for the Chileans.

After third place in the Copa América in Brazil, Lionel Scaloni was ratified in his position until the end of 2019, contemplating the six friendlies prior to the Qualifiers on his way to Qatar 2022. But after a private meeting between Claudio Tapia and César Luis Menotti, the DT would also be confirmed for the World Cup qualifiers.

In Copa América 2021 they drew again with Chile (1-1), defeating Uruguay 1-0, Paraguay 1-0 and Bolivia 4-1. Already in the quarterfinals they beat Ecuador 3-0, and in the semifinals, they faced Colombia with whom, after drawing 1-1 in regulation time, they won on penalties (3-2) in an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Martínez.

Finally, he played the final with his classic rival, Brazil, at the mythical Maracanã Stadium, where with a goal by Di María, assisted by De Paul, he managed to win the Copa América 2021 after 28 years without titles.

Lionel Scaloni coaching style

Lionel Scaloni led Argentina to their first major victory in 28 years in the Copa America in 2021. He was considered an inexperienced figure when he was appointed, originally on an interim basis, when he came at the age of 40, after their disastrous results at Russia 2018, but he has also succeeded in helping his players find a sense of togetherness and purpose.

If Messi's international football career ends while he is still in his position, he may face an equally daunting assignment. "It's a wonderful championship, particularly for our people; I hope the Argentines enjoy it," he remarked of Argentina's Copa America victory against Brazil. "The supporters are unwavering in their support for the squad." They may empathize with this never-say-die crew."

Scaloni's initial teams utilized a back four that, because to the presence of a player like Juan Foyth at right-back, allowed them to develop with a back three.

As a result, Nicolás Tagliafico overlapped from left-back and around the tight midfield that existed in either a 4-4-2 (below), 4-3-3, or four-diamond-two, with the understanding that when the former was utilized, their left-sided midfielder would drift infield; Tagliafico also drifted infield on occasion.

They've always tried to grow slowly and take control of possession. When there is the versatility to build around pressure, often via direct passes to their full-backs – even if opponents commit an additional player to that press – their central defenders split and a central midfielder withdraws to form a diamond with their goalkeeper around the opposition's most advanced pressers.

Scaloni's preferred front two are Lautaro Martnez and Lionel Messi. When attacks are being formed, Martnez is allowed great leeway to contribute from deeper territory, which he often accomplishes by prioritizing retiring towards the right inside channel, from where he also makes forward runs to contribute to direct play towards the right.

Messi benefits from Leandro Paredes' passing range when he makes those forward runs and when he is positioned between the lines.

Nicolás González was usually picked as Scaloni's left-sided midfielder during their success at the 2021 Copa America. González kept his width; a starting central midfielder instead advanced through the left inside channel to support Tagliafico if Acua wasn't also used as a more defensive left-back.

Whereas Sergio Agüero may have been selected wide and then encouraged to move to operate as an additional striker, or Marcos Acua to move to central midfield, González kept his width.

With both full-backs progressively approaching at the same time, a central midfielder is told to create a separate back three to assist the two central defenders behind him.

Doing so is resisted against lower defensive blocks, especially when both wide midfielders move to play as wide forwards and therefore form a front three; their full-backs supply offensive width, while Messi works as a playmaker from a central position.

Argentina's attacks have been dominated by central combinations under Scaloni, and some have developed from their effective high press. Passes from the defensive third target their alternatives in the center of the field and their effectiveness from wide area, allowing them to continue to establish possession even after Paredes has been covered.

Set-pieces have also proven to be a strength. Messi is a direct free kick danger, while Paredes and De Paul, in addition to Messi, give variety from corners and broader deliveries.

At such set-pieces, five players occupy the penalty area — the strongest, aerially, are frequently at the near post – while those prioritizing the second ball play a reactive role, drawing markers or creating space for teammates, even if a shorter set-piece routine is favored.

Scaloni prefers an aggressive press that entails his side defending far into the offensive half of the field when they lose possession.

They've also shown a tendency to push possession wide when regaining control is unlikely or when their high press isn't working. The presence of two central midfielders gives them with the solid transitional basis they need, and a 4-4-2 is maintained regardless of their defensive strategy.

Messi and Martnez continue to move and position themselves away from opposition defensive midfielders, eventually ready to launch possible counterattacks.

Argentina's focus in wide area shifts from that lower block to one-on-ones, which implies that, similar to Marcelo Bielsa's strategy, players are primarily accountable for their immediate opponent. The wide midfielder opposite him is responsible for monitoring an opponent full-run back's regardless of how far he goes.

As a result, instead of relying on his skilled strikers to defend at crucial times, Scaloni has favored adaptable wide midfielders.

Their center defenders are in charge of the balls that are returned infield as well as their general organization, which includes being tight enough to prevent penetrative passes and then becoming aggressive when their defensive block is advanced through.

Three players create a staggered zonal defense while defending corners, while the others defend one-on-one. If the opponent sends an extra man to the corner, the nearest zonal defender is assigned the task of moving and pressing shorter deliveries.

Close-range free kicks are defended with the same one-on-one defensive method as long-range free kicks; long-range free kicks are defended zonally, prioritizing gaps and runs into the penalty area.

Some quick facts about Lionel Scaloni:

Scaloni was a member of Argentina's 2006 World Cup team and gained seven appearances for the country between 2003 and 2006.

Scaloni, who was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, started his professional career in Argentina's Primera División with hometown club Newell's Old Boys and subsequently Estudiantes de La Plata before joining Spain's Deportivo de La Corua for 405 million pesetas in December 1997.

A notable fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he contended with Manuel Pablo and Vctor for both starting slots on the right wing throughout his eight-and-a-half-year spell with the Galicians.

However, owing to injury, he only played in 14 La Liga games as Depor won the championship for the first time.

Scaloni joined Premier League club

on loan on 31 January 2006, the last day of the transfer window, after falling out with manager Joaqun Caparrós, in an effort to boost his chances of being selected for the next World Cup.

An important fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he took Tomá epka's number two jersey and made his league debut for the East Londoners against Sunderland on 4 February; he also helped the club reach the FA Cup final, where they were defeated by Liverpool in a penalty shootout.

Scaloni departed West Ham after failing to reach an agreement on a permanent transfer. Deportivo released him together with Diego Tristán on September 1, 2006, one day after the summer transfer window closed.

Due to the lack of restrictions for free agents, Scaloni signed a one-year deal with Racing de Santander two weeks later. The Cantabrians eventually ended in the middle of the standings. Each game against his previous club ended in 0–0 draws, and he played – and started – in both of them.

Scaloni signed a five-year contract with

in Italy's Serie A on June 30, 2007.

He moved to Spain in January of the following year, on loan to RCD Mallorca for 18 months; he then returned to Rome, where he was hardly utilized for the next three seasons.

Scaloni, who is over 35 years old, joined Atalanta B.C. in January 2013. He was released at the conclusion of the season, but after failing to find a new club, he was re-signed.

A notable fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he made his Argentina debut in a friendly against Libya on April 30, 2003, and was a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, replacing veteran Javier Zanetti, who also played as a right-wingback.

On the 24th of June 2006, he began and completed the 2–1 extra time round of 16 triumph over Mexico at the Zentralstadion, which was his sole appearance of the tournament.

Scaloni joined Jorge Sampaoli's coaching staff at Sevilla FC on October 11, 2016.

When the latter was selected the new national team coach in June 2017, he was renamed his assistant.

Scaloni and Pablo Aimar were chosen interim managers till the end of the year following the country's defeat at the World Cup in Russia.

In November 2018, the former was re-appointed to the position until June 2019, when the 2019 Copa América was to be held, and guided the team to third place in Brazil.

An important fact about Lionel Scaloni is that he led Argentina to the Copa América title in 2021, defeating Brazil, the hosts (1–0), to help the country win its first trophy in 28 years.

The Argentina boss Scaloni once commented on Lionel Messi, “He will go down as "the best footballer in history", with or without senior international honors.

"Obviously, we want to win because we haven’t made all this effort not to break the bubble.

"In the background, whether Leo wins or doesn’t, he has already demonstrated that he is the best in history, and even the opponents recognize it.

"Leo's game, I honestly don't know if he's going to get tired of being praised every day. The best thing that can happen for us football lovers is that the stars play until any age they can and we enjoy it.

"Messi is enjoyed even by opponents when they play against him. We are talking about the best player of all time.

"It is difficult for a player to be at his level. Neymar may at some point be a similar player but because of what he has done, is doing and will continue to do, we must remember him for who he is."

Lionel Scaloni social media

Regarding Lionel Scaloni social media, it should be mentioned that he has an Instagram page (

) with more than 82k followers.

He also has a Twitter account (

) with more than 79k followers. He rarely posts new stuff on his Twitter page.

Lionel Scaloni body measurements

Speaking about

Lionel Scaloni body measurements

, it should be mentioned that the coach is 182 cm and 80 kg.

Lionel Scaloni net worth and salary

In 2016, he joined Sevilla's club as an assistant manager. In 2017, he was given a position as an assistant in Argentina.

Lionel Scaloni’s net worth

is $6 million dollars.

From 1998 through 2006, Scaloni signed a lucrative contract with Deportivo La Corua. After joining with Lazio from 2007 through 2013, he was named among the top paid players in Serie A.

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