Simeone has been in charge of Atletico Madrid since December 2011, becoming one of the longest-serving managers in European football. His tenure has helped define the club’s modern identity, with intensity, commitment and collective spirit central to the team’s reputation.
Speaking to Sport Bild, Cerezo said Atlético remained focused on the present and continued to see Simeone as part of its future.
“We live day by day, match by match. Just as Simeone likes to say. We are not thinking about a successor and we are looking towards the future with him,” Cerezo said.
The president also credited the Argentine with helping establish the characteristics that Atlético supporters associate with their club.
“Thanks to our coach, Atlético is synonymous with passion and heart. Everything that a good fan should have. I don’t want to say anything more on the subject,” he added.
The comments offer a clear indication of the club’s public position while questions remain about what happens when Simeone’s current deal expires. No successor has been identified, and Cerezo’s remarks suggest Atlético would prefer to continue with the manager who has shaped the team for more than a decade.
Simeone’s longevity is increasingly unusual in modern football, where managers are often replaced after relatively short spells, particularly when results fall below expectations. His continued presence has given Atlético a consistent identity and a familiar figure around whom the club can build its sporting plans.
Cerezo’s confidence also reflects the relationship between the manager and the institution. Simeone arrived in Madrid in December 2011 and has since become closely associated with Atlético’s ambitions, expectations and standing in Spanish and European football.
The president’s comments do not, however, amount to confirmation of a new contract. Simeone remains tied to the club until the end of the current agreement, leaving the precise timing and terms of any extension unresolved.
For now, Atlético’s stated position is that it sees no need to plan for a future without him. Cerezo’s interview reinforces the view that the club wants continuity rather than a change in leadership, even as the contractual question draws closer.
With Simeone’s deal due to expire next summer, the months ahead will eventually need to bring clarity. But Cerezo’s message is that Atlético’s immediate focus remains on the season ahead and on continuing the project with the coach who has led the club since 2011.