 Almeyda in 2016 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matías Jesús Almeyda | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1973-12-21)21 December 1973 (age 52) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Azul, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Sevilla (head coach) | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1991–1996 | River Plate | 68 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Sevilla | 28 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Lazio | 63 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Parma | 34 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Inter Milan | 47 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Brescia | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Quilmes | 10 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Lyn | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Fénix | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | River Plate | 64 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 324 | (6) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Argentina U20 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Argentina U23 | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–2003 | Argentina | 40 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | River Plate | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Banfield | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Guadalajara | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2022 | San Jose Earthquakes | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2025 | AEK Athens | ||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Sevilla | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Matías Jesús Almeyda (Spanish pronunciation:[maˈti.asxeˈsusalˈmejða]; born 21 December 1973) is an Argentine professionalfootballmanager and former player. He is the current head coach ofLa Liga clubSevilla.
NicknamedEl Pelado ("bald one") despite his traditionally long hair,[2] he played as adefensive midfielder and spent most of his career atRiver Plate and in Italy, representing four teams in the latter country.
Almeyda representedArgentina, appearing with the national team in twoWorld Cups. After retiring in 2011, he went on to manageRiver Plate,Banfield,Guadalajara,San Jose Earthquakes andAEK Athens. He won a Greek domestic league and cup double with AEK in 2023 before departing the club in May 2025. The following month, he was announced as coach of Spanish side Sevilla on a three-year deal.
Born inAzul, Buenos Aires Province, Almeyda started playing professionally for local and national powerhouseRiver Plate, first as understudy toLeonardo Astrada then as a starter, helping the side to the 1996Primera División title after his insertion in the starting XI, as well asthat year'sCopa Libertadores. Shortly after, he moved toSevilla in Spain, for a record fee for a player in the country of $9 million;[3] he appeared regularly inhis first and only season with theAndalusians, but sufferedLa Liga relegation.[4]
Almeyda played in the ItalianSerie A in the following eight years, successively representingLazio,Parma andInter Milan. He spent three seasons inRome with Lazio, becoming a firm fan favourite especially after scoring a 35-yard goal against Parma'sGianluigi Buffon, his only of the1999–2000 campaign, which ended with league andCoppa Italiaconquest.[5] Additionally, he was voted the competition's best player in1998–99, and also won – as a starter –the lastUEFA Cup Winners' Cup, againstMallorca,[6] and was often partnered with compatriotJuan Sebastián Verón in the heart of midfield by managerSven-Göran Eriksson in his4–4–2 formation, with Verón providing the creativity and Almeyda the strength.[7][8]
In the summer of 2002, Almeyda was exchanged withVratislav Greško and moved to Inter, where he was again partnered by compatriots as in his previous clubs. Two years later, he joined his final team in Italy, lowlyBrescia, on afree transfer.[9] The following year, afterthe team's relegation as second from bottom, he returned to Argentina and agreed to play forQuilmes, whichappeared at the Libertadores, announcing his retirement after their elimination from that tournament.[10]
After one and a half years away from football, in which he represented Argentina in aShowball tour around the world alongsideDiego Maradona and participated in the Indoor Football World Cup in Spain, Almeyda joinedNorwegian Premier League sideLyn inOslo, in which he was accompanied by compatriotJosé Oscar Flores; their friendTerje Liverod was central in these transfers.[11] The midfielder made his debut on 13 May 2007, but only played regularly in the reserves and in thedomestic cup, being released as thestriker shortly after and again retiring from football.
On 16 January 2009, at almost 36, Almeyda, after nearly agreeing on a return to River, signed with modestFénix in thefourth division.[12] During his brief spell, he managed to besent off on two occasions.[13]
On 19 August 2009, veteran Almeyda finally re-joined his main club River Plate, teaming up with former teammatesMarcelo Gallardo andAriel Ortega.[2] In June 2011, the team wasrelegated to thesecond level for the first time in their history and he retired from football, being appointed team manager the following month.[14]
Almeyda won 35caps forArgentina over the course of seven years, his debut coming in April 1996 againstBolivia.[15] Shortly after, he helped theOlympic side to thesilver medal at theSummer Olympics inAtlanta.[16]
Subsequently, Almeyda was picked in the squad for the1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He started in all five games during the tournament, as the country reached the quarter–finals.[17]
AfterMarcelo Bielsa became Argentina's manager, Almeyda did not get as much playing time.[18][19] He was, however, selected for the2002 World Cup which was held in South Korea and Japan, and played in the 1–1 group stage draw againstSweden.[16]
Almeyda spent 18 months in charge at River Plate, winning thePrimera B Nacional and earning promotion back to the top division at the end of the2011–12 season. He left the club in November 2012.[20]
In early April 2013, Almeyda signed withBanfield in the Argentine second level.[21] During his spell, hewon the league title, once again to be subsequently promoted.
On 15 September 2015, Almeyda was appointed manager atGuadalajara of the MexicanLiga MX,[22] proclaiming he wanted to "awaken the giant."[23] He won his first four matches in charge, including one againstrivalsClub América on 26 September by a score of 2–1 at theEstadio Azteca.[24]
On 4 November 2015, after nine years of a title hiatus, Almeyda's team won theCopa MX after defeatingClub León by a score of1–0.[25] On 10 July 2016, theyplayed their first everSupercopa MX and won their second trophy in under a year by bestingC.D. Veracruz 2–0, and as a resultqualified to the Libertadores for the first time since 2012,[26] but ultimately did not participate as a result of scheduling conflicts.[27]
On 19 April 2017, Almeyda ledChivas to their fourth Copa MX title, defeatingMonarcas Morelia in apenalty shootout after a0–0 draw.[28] After placing third overall in theClausura's general table, thefinal second leg was played at theEstadio Chivas on 28 May 2017 and the hosts won their 12th title in the competition after bestingTigres UANL by an aggregate of 4–3; thus, they became the first team in Mexican history to winthe double in a single season on two occasions.[28]
Almeyda won the2018 edition of theCONCACAF Champions League with the club,[29] and as a result qualified forthat year'sFIFA Club World Cup.[30] On 11 June 2018, however, he left, citing differences with an executive.[31][32]
On 8 October 2018, Almeyda was appointed as the new head coach ofMajor League Soccer clubSan Jose Earthquakes, starting with the2019 season.[33] He attained 44 points within theWestern Conference, missing the playoff berth by one win.[34]
Thefollowing campaign, Almeyda's side managed to reachthe playoffs, facingSporting Kansas City in the first round but losing following a 3–0 penalty shoot-out after a 3–3 tie.[35]
On 18 April 2022, Almeyda and San Jose Earthquakes parted ways, two days after the team drew 2–2 withNashville SC.[36]
On 20 May 2022, Almeyda signed a two-year contract withSuper League Greece clubAEK Athens.[37] On 10 January 2023, the club extended his contract until 2028.
In his debut season, Almeyda led AEK to victory in both theSuper League Greece and theGreek Cup, achieving their first double since 1978.[38] The following year, AEK reached the group stage of theEuropa League after a three-year absence, which included a memorable 3-2 away win atBrighton.
On 13 May 2025, AEK and Almeyda parted ways after six consecutive losses in the playoffs.
On 16 June 2025, Spanish clubSevilla announced Almeyda as their new head coach.[39] On 5 October 2025, he guided the team to a 4–1 league victory over defending champions Barcelona. It was Sevilla’s first win against Barcelona since 2015.[40]
A tenacious, dynamic and physically strong player in spite of his diminutive stature, Almeyda excelled in amidfield holding role due to his stamina, tactical awareness, reactions, anticipation and work rate, as well as his ability to press opponents and break down opposition plays which allowed him to protect his team's back-line. Although he earned a reputation in the media as a hard tackler, due to his "no-nonsense style of play," he was gifted with good feet and passing ability, which enabled him to start attacking plays after winning back possession; he also stood out for his leadership throughout his career. During his time in Italy, pundits likened him to his rival, Dutch holding midfielderEdgar Davids of Juventus, although Almeyda believed that Davids was more offensive-minded, while he preferred to focus on the defensive aspect of the game in order to support his more creative and offensive teammates. Due to his diminutive stature, tackling, and ability to cover a lot of ground during matches, Almeyda was given the nicknameel tractorito ("the little tractor," in Spanish) in the media.[15][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
Almeyda's approach is heavily influenced byMarcelo Bielsa, his former manager, particularly in the emphasis on high-intensity pressing, attacking football and man-to-man marking of the opposition.[49] Almeyda also incorporates the "Bushido Code" (a Japanese samurai code of conduct) into his coaching philosophy, emphasizing virtues like righteousness, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, duty, loyalty, honor, and self-control.[50]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| River Plate | 1991–92 | Primera División | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1992–93 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 1993–94 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 1994–95 | 25 | 1 | — | 8[a] | 1 | — | 33 | 2 | ||||
| 1995–96 | 24 | 2 | — | 20[a] | 1 | — | 44 | 3 | ||||
| 1996–97 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 68 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2 | — | 98 | 5 | |||
| Sevilla | 1996–97 | La Liga | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| Lazio | 1997–98 | Serie A | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[b] | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |
| 1998–99 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |||
| 1999–2000 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Total | 63 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 94 | 2 | ||
| Parma | 2000–01 | Serie A | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5[f] | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 50 | 0 | |||
| Inter Milan | 2002–03 | Serie A | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10[d] | 1 | — | 26 | 1 | |
| 2003–04 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7[g] | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Total | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 1 | — | 47 | 1 | |||
| Brescia | 2004–05 | Serie A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Quilmes | 2005–06 | Primera División | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| Lyn | 2007 | Tippeligaen | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 3 | ||
| Fénix | 2008–09 | Primera C Metropolitana | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| River Plate | 2009–10 | Primera División | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 62 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 304 | 5 | 23 | 3 | 81 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 409 | 11 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1996 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 July 2000 | Estádio do Morumbi,São Paulo, Brazil |  Brazil | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| River Plate |  | 1 July 2011 | 27 November 2012 | 60 | 29 | 22 | 9 | 97 | 45 | +52 | 048.33 |
| Banfield | 21 April 2013 | 3 August 2015 | 98 | 44 | 27 | 27 | 148 | 102 | +46 | 044.90 | |
| Guadalajara[n 1] |  | 15 September 2015 | 11 June 2018 | 139 | 56 | 44 | 39 | 167 | 143 | +24 | 040.29 |
| San Jose Earthquakes |  | 8 October 2018 | 18 April 2022 | 103 | 33 | 26 | 44 | 158 | 192 | −34 | 032.04 |
| AEK Athens |  | 18 Μay 2022 | 13 May 2025 | 134 | 80 | 25 | 29 | 244 | 116 | +128 | 059.70 |
| Sevilla |  | 16 June 2025 | present | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 37 | 42 | −5 | 033.33 |
| Total | 561 | 251 | 149 | 161 | 851 | 640 | +211 | 044.74 | |||
River Plate[57]
Lazio[57]
Parma[57]
Argentina[16]
Individual
River Plate[56]
Banfield[56]
AEK Athens
Individual
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)
Argentina squads | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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