Jorge Sampaoli is one of those names that echoes across pitches like an anthem of passion and intensity. Born on March 13, 1960, in Casilda, a small town in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, he turned a frustrated playing career into one of the most fascinating journeys in world football. Injured at age 19, Sampaoli swapped his boots for the whistle and became a coach obsessed with innovative tactics and attacking football. Now, at 65, he leads Atlético Mineiro in the heart of Brazil, where he seeks to reclaim glory in a league he knows like few others. His story is a script of highs and lows, epic victories and bitter lessons, always steeped in a philosophy that prioritizes spectacle and collective grit.
Early Steps: From Casilda to the Peruvian Challenges
It all began in Argentina’s regional leagues. Sampaoli dove into coaching amateur teams, such as Belgrano de Arequito, where he won the Liga Casildense de Fútbol title in 1996 in the promotion division. Two years later, at Aprendices Casildenses, he repeated the feat in 1999 and 2000. These modest trophies fueled a career that would take him far from home. At 40, he crossed borders to Peru, a country that would become his second football homeland.
His first major test came at Juan Aurich in 2004, where he introduced an aggressive style that surprised everyone. From there, he moved to Sport Boys and Coronel Bolognesi, with whom he won the Peruvian Cup in 2006. At Sporting Cristal in 2007 and 2008, he raised the bar, finishing runner-up in the national championship. But it was in Chile, starting in 2009, that Sampaoli found fertile ground to flourish. Taking over O’Higgins, he led the club to a historic campaign: third place in the 2010 Clausura, a first for the Rancagua-based team. His trademark was already clear: high pressing, quick transitions, and a defense that turned into attack in seconds.
Those early years shaped the man Sampaoli is today. He wasn’t just a coach; he was a visionary who studied the game like a scientist, inspired by idols like César Luis Menotti and, above all, Marcelo Bielsa, his indirect mentor. “Football is a war of ideas,” he often says, and his teams always reflect that: compact, relentless, and lethal on the counter-attack.
The Explosion at Universidad de Chile: Three Titles and a Historic Cup
The turning point came in 2010 when Sampaoli took over Universidad de Chile. What followed was a golden era. In 2011, he won both the Apertura and Clausura, becoming the first coach to claim both tournaments in the same year for the club. But the pinnacle was the 2011 Copa Sudamericana, the first international title in La U’s history. In the final against LDU Quito, the Chileans won 3-0 on aggregate with football that mesmerized: high possession, attacking full-backs, and a midfield that dictated the tempo.
In 91 games, he recorded 59 wins, 19 draws, and just 13 losses – a 73% win rate. Sampaoli didn’t just win trophies; he changed the club’s culture, turning players like Gary Medel and Eduardo Vargas into stars. His departure in 2012 to coach the Chilean national team was mourned like that of a hero. “He taught us to dream big,” the club’s president would later say. This period cemented his reputation as a tactical genius, capable of extracting the maximum from limited squads.
The Red Era: Copa América Triumph with Chile
Taking over the Chilean national team in 2012 was a colossal challenge. The country had gone decades without major titles, and expectations were sky-high. Sampaoli injected fresh blood, blending a new generation with veterans while prioritizing physical intensity and tactical cohesion. Qualification for the 2014 World Cup was solid, with Chile finishing third in the Americas. But the World Cup in Brazil was painful: a heroic group-stage win over Spain, followed by elimination on penalties against Brazil in the round of 16.
Redemption came in 2015 at the Copa América on home soil. Sampaoli’s Chile faced Messi’s Argentina in the final in Santiago and won on penalties after a thrilling 0-0 draw. It was Chile’s first major title in history – a national catharsis. Sampaoli wept at the final whistle, and the country came to a standstill. His record: 39 games, 21 wins, 10 draws, and 8 losses. He left in 2016 for Europe, but his legacy with La Roja is eternal – a team that played with soul, pressing as if every match were their last.
Back to His Roots: Turbulent Years in Argentina
In 2017, Sampaoli took charge of the Argentine national team – a dream and a trap. He inherited a star-studded squad led by Messi but fractured by egos. Qualification for the 2018 World Cup was a rollercoaster: Argentina scraped through on the final matchday thanks to a win over Ecuador. At the World Cup in Russia, disappointment followed: a labored win over Nigeria, a draw with Iceland, a loss to Croatia, and elimination in the round of 16 against France. Criticism rained down over his handling of egos and defensive fragility.
Sacked in 2018 after 19 games and just 8 wins, Sampaoli returned to club football. At Santos in 2019, he shone: second place in the Brasileirão with attacking football that enchanted Vila Belmiro. Hulk, Eduardo Sasha, and company became goal-scoring machines. But pressure for titles led him to leave after one year. It was his first serious flirtation with Brazil – a country he would learn to love and hate.
European Adventure: Highs and Lows in Spain and France
Europe tested Sampaoli like never before. At Sevilla in 2016, he arrived as a savior and qualified the team for the Champions League, finishing fourth in La Liga. His return in 2022 was brief and troubled: sacked after five months with the team in the relegation zone. “The pressure here is different, colder,” he later reflected.
In 2021 at Olympique de Marseille, he implemented his trademark 3-4-3, leading the team to the Europa League final, only to lose to Villarreal. 41 games, 22 wins. In 2024 at Rennes in France, the story repeated: hired in November, fired in January 2025 after poor results. “France demands patience I don’t always have,” he admitted. These European years showed his versatility but also the difficulty of adapting his passionate style to more tactical leagues.
The Passionate Return to Brazil: Santos, Flamengo, and Now Atlético Mineiro
Brazil, with its visceral passion, seems tailor-made for Sampaoli. After Santos came Flamengo in 2023: 164 days, 39 games, and the Copa do Brasil in the bag. But internal tensions forced him out. Free from January 2025, he returned in September, signing with Atlético Mineiro until December 2027. The Galo, which he had already led to the Minas Gerais state title and Copa do Brasil in 2020–21, needed new life.
Under him, the team once again adopted high pressing and quick triangulations. In 18 games up to November, they recorded 7 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses, with football that thrilled the Arena MRV. Hulk, Paulinho, and Nacho Fernández reinvented themselves, and Atlético fought for a G-6 spot in the Brasileirão. Sampaoli restored the club’s warrior identity, focusing on a more solid defense – an evolution of his classic philosophy.
The Unforgettable 2025 Copa Sudamericana Final: Lessons from a Heroic Defeat
The year’s high point – and bitter moment – came in the Copa Sudamericana final on November 22, 2025, in Asunción, Paraguay. Sampaoli’s Atlético Mineiro faced Lanús from Argentina in a clash that reignited old rivalries. The match ended 0-0 after regular and extra time, with Galo dominating chances but faltering in the final third. On penalties, Lanús won 5-4 after crucial saves by goalkeeper Valentín Perales.
Visibly emotional, Sampaoli praised his players’ effort: “We were warriors until the end. This final will make us stronger for the Brasileirão.” It was his chance to claim a second continental title – he already had the 2011 Sudamericana with Universidad de Chile – but the defeat became a lesson. The coach lamented the lack of “finishing power” up top but highlighted the collective effort. Now, eyes turn to the domestic league, where Atlético dreams of the title and a Libertadores spot. That Sudamericana run, with convincing wins in earlier rounds, revived Sampaoli’s career, proving that at 65, he still burns with the same hunger.
The Style That Defines an Era: Pressure, Intensity, and Innovation
What makes Sampaoli unique is his tactical DNA. He loves the 3-4-2-1 or a fluid 4-3-3, with full-backs bombing forward like wingers and man-to-man marking that suffocates opponents. Influenced by Bielsa, he preaches “total football”: everyone attacks, everyone defends. His teams run more than average – statistics show a 15% increase in sprints per game under his management. Critics point to defensive vulnerabilities, but fans celebrate the spectacle: “He makes football art,” says a former player.
His legacy goes beyond trophies – 437 wins in 893 games, nearly 49% win rate. Sampaoli shaped generations, as he did in Chile, and inspired coaches like Eduardo Coudet. In Brazil, he is seen as a catalyst of talent, turning average squads into competitive machines.
Where Next for the Maestro? A Future of Glory
At 65, Sampaoli has no thoughts of retirement. His contract with Atlético runs until 2027, and there are rumors of interest from South American national teams. At Galo, he chases a third state title and a Brasileirão that has eluded the club for years. The Sudamericana defeat hurts, but it motivates: “We’ll come back stronger,” he promised in the post-match press conference.
Jorge Sampaoli is more than a coach; he is a storyteller on the pitch. From Casilda to the global spotlight, he proves that football is about belief, adaptation, and above all, passion. In Brazil, where the game is religion, he has found a home. And as long as the ball keeps rolling, Sampaoli will be there, conducting symphonies of goals and racing hearts.
