Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (born 16 May 1978) is an Argentine professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of the Argentina national team. As a player, he primarily operated as a right-back or right midfielder.
Playing Career
Scaloni began his professional playing career with Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, making his senior debut in 1995. After a stint with Estudiantes de La Plata, he moved to Europe in 1998, joining Spanish club Deportivo La Coruña. It was with Deportivo that he enjoyed his most significant club success, winning the La Liga title in the 1999–2000 season, the Copa del Rey in 2002, and two Supercopa de España titles. He later played for clubs such as West Ham United (on loan), Racing Santander, Lazio, Mallorca, and Atalanta, before retiring as a player in 2015.Internationally, Scaloni represented Argentina at various youth levels. He earned seven caps for the senior national team between 2003 and 2006 and was included in Argentina's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Managerial Career
Scaloni's transition into management began shortly after his playing retirement. He first served as an assistant coach at Spanish club Sevilla alongside Jorge Sampaoli in 2016.Argentina National Team
In 2017, Scaloni joined Sampaoli's coaching staff for the Argentina national team. Following Argentina's exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Sampaoli was dismissed, and Scaloni was appointed as interim manager in August 2018. His appointment was initially met with some skepticism due to his relative lack of senior managerial experience.Under Scaloni's leadership, Argentina embarked on a period of remarkable transformation. He integrated young talent, revitalized the squad, and fostered a strong team identity and spirit. His tenure has seen the national team achieve unprecedented success:
- Copa América 2021: Scaloni led Argentina to their first major international trophy in 28 years, defeating arch-rivals Brazil in the final at the Maracanã Stadium.
- CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions 2022 (Finalissima): Argentina further solidified their status by winning the Finalissima, a match between the champions of South America and Europe, beating Italy 3–0.
- FIFA World Cup 2022: The pinnacle of Scaloni's managerial career came in Qatar, where he guided Argentina to win their third FIFA World Cup title, defeating France in a dramatic final. This victory ended Argentina's 36-year wait for the World Cup trophy and cemented Scaloni's place in Argentine football history.
Scaloni is widely praised for his tactical flexibility, his ability to manage high-profile players like Lionel Messi, and his success in creating a cohesive and resilient team unit.
Honours (as Manager)
- Copa América: 2021
- CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
Individual Awards (as Manager)
- IFFHS World's Best National Coach: 2022, 2023
- The Best FIFA Men's Coach: 2022