Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (Rioplatense: [eskaˈloni], Italian: [skaˈloːni]; born 16 May 1978) is an Argentine professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of the Argentina national team. He is also an Italian citizen. Under his leadership, Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Scaloni is regarded as one of the best national coaches in the world. A versatile player throughout his career as a footballer, he operated as a right-back or right midfielder.

Born in Pujato, Santa Fe Province, near Rosario, Scaloni debuted as a player for Newell's Old Boys in 1995. He spent most of his professional career in Spain, mainly at Deportivo de La Coruña, where he won the 1999–2000 Spanish league title and the 2001–02 Copa del Rey. In total, he amassed 258 games and 15 goals over 12 seasons in La Liga with three different teams. He also played for several years in Italy, with Lazio and Atalanta, before retiring in 2015. Internationally, he played for Argentina at under-20 level, and made his debut for the senior team in 2003; he won seven caps for the team between 2003 and 2006, and was part of their 2006 World Cup squad.

Scaloni began his coaching career in 2016, starting as an assistant at Sevilla and Argentina's under-20 team. In 2018, he was named the outright manager of the under-20 team, and was chosen to lead the Argentina senior team later that year. With the senior team, he guided them to third place at his first international tournament, the 2019 Copa América, in Brazil. He won the 2021 edition, Argentina's first such honour in 28 years, and then beat Italy in the 2022 Finalissima. Thereafter, the Scaloni-led national team won their third World Cup title, the first since 1986, in 2022 in Qatar. He also went on to win the 2024 Copa América as the Argentina manager, making him the first manager in football history to win three major international tournaments in a row. In 2026, he led Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final, where they were defeated by Spain.

Born in the small town of Pujato in the province of Santa Fe in Argentina, with Italian origins from Ascoli Piceno, Marche, Scaloni began his career in the Argentine Primera División with local club Newell's Old Boys and then Estudiantes, before joining Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain in December 1997 for 405 million pesetas.

Regularly used with the Galicians over an eight-and-a-half-year stint, he competed with Manuel Pablo and Víctor for both starting spots on the right flank. Due to a knee injury, he appeared in only 14 La Liga matches as Deportivo won the title for the first time.

After falling out with manager Joaquín Caparrós, Scaloni joined Premier League side West Ham United on loan on 31 January 2006, the final day of the transfer window, in an attempt to increase his chance of selection for the upcoming World Cup. He took the number 2 shirt from the departed Tomáš Řepka, and made his league debut for the East Londoners against Sunderland on 4 February; he also helped the team to reach the FA Cup final, a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool.

Scaloni left West Ham after a permanent move could not be agreed. Deportivo released him on 1 September 2006 alongside Diego Tristán, one day after the close of the summer transfer window.

However, due to the fact there were no limitations for free agents, two weeks later Scaloni signed a one-year contract at Racing de Santander, The Cantabrians subsequently finished in mid table. He appeared – and started – in both games against his former club, both ending in 0–0 draws.

On 30 June 2007, Scaloni moved to Lazio in Italy's Serie A on a five-year deal. In January of the following year, he returned to Spain, on loan to Mallorca for 18 months; subsequently, he returned to Rome, where he was rarely used for the following three seasons.

At age 35, Scaloni joined Atalanta in January 2013. He was released at the end of the campaign, but re-signed after failing to find a new club.

After making his debut for Argentina on 30 April 2003 in a friendly game with Libya, Scaloni was a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, taking the place of veteran Javier Zanetti who also played as a right wing-back. His only appearance of the tournament was the 2–1 extra time win against Mexico in the round of 16, on 24 June 2006 at the Zentralstadion, which he started and finished.

On 11 October 2016, Scaloni joined compatriot Jorge Sampaoli's coaching staff at Sevilla. The following June, when Sampaoli was appointed as the new national team boss, Scaloni was again named as his assistant.

After Argentina's failure at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Sampaoli left his post as Argentina manager by mutual consent. Scaloni and Pablo Aimar were subsequently named caretaker managers until the end of the year. In November 2018, the former was confirmed in the post until the following June when the 2019 Copa América was due to take place. This decision unleashed a wave of criticism against Scaloni's appointment, including from legendary footballer Diego Maradona, who criticized the move for appointing an "unqualified" and inexperienced person in charge who "wouldn't even be able to direct traffic". Scaloni's appointment, at the time, was also seen as an offence against the national team due to the lack of consultation with other experienced managers at the time and the AFA was blamed for having no strategy regarding the appointment.

In the 2019 Copa América, he led the side to third place in Brazil, but not in the style fans expected as Argentina struggled to advance further in the tournament. The poor performance on Argentina's way to the third-place finish ultimately released a new wave of criticism against Scaloni appointment due to Argentina's inability to win the tournament despite expectation, and Scaloni's inadequate and inconsistent tactical performances. Despite calls to sack Scaloni, however, the AFA opted to extend Scaloni's contract until 2022, as AFA saw Scaloni's third-place finish acceptable.

Scaloni led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América title after defeating Brazil who were once again the hosts (1–0), helping them to win their first trophy in 28 years. In November that year, he was nominated for The Best FIFA Football Coach Award, but did not make the final three shortlist.

On 1 June 2022, Scaloni's Argentina won the 2022 Finalissima after defeating European champions Italy 3–0 at Wembley Stadium. On 16 November, Argentina beat the United Arab Emirates 5–0 in a friendly World Cup warm-up game ahead of the World Cup extending their unbeaten run to 36 matches, just one shy of Italy's record of 37.

On 22 November, Scaloni's side lost 2–1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening group stage match of the World Cup in Qatar ending their unbeaten run of 36 matches; the result was considered by Gracenote statistically the greatest upset in the history of the tournament. Nevertheless, they made it into the knockout stages after recording 2–0 wins over both Mexico and Poland. Argentina then overcame Australia (2–1) in the round of 16, and advanced over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals with a penalty shoot-out victory, following which Scaloni defended his team after controversy surrounding the fights and tension between Argentine and Dutch players during the ill-tempered shoot-out. After beating Croatia 3–0 in the semi-finals, the nation reached the final for the second time in eight years. He then led Argentina to their third FIFA World Cup title in the final against France, with the Argentine team winning via a 4–2 penalty shoot-out after the match had ended in 3–3 after extra time.

Scaloni is regarded as one of the best men's national coaches in the world due to his success with the Argentina national team.

Scaloni has stated that Carlo Ancelotti is the coach he most admires and that he tries to emulate his coaching style with Argentina.

In his time as coach of Argentina, the national press nicknamed the national team 'Scaloneta'.

Scaloni has instilled a coaching philosophy with Argentina centered on fostering unity and camaraderie among players through team bonding and ensuring clear, open communication to define each player's role and value within the team structure.

Scaloni has both Argentine and Italian citizenship. His older brother, Mauro, also played at Deportivo, but did not progress beyond its reserve team. Scaloni and his wife Elisa Montero met at age 31 and 30 when he was playing in Mallorca, where she lived. They have two sons.

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

IFFHS Team of the Copa América Manager: 2021

IFFHS Men's World's Best National Coach: 2022, 2023