Lionel Scaloni's Journey to Coaching Greatness

Lionel Scaloni was not always a household name in football. Born on May 16, 1978, in Rosario, Argentina, he started his professional football career with Newell's Old Boys in Argentina in 1997, where he played as a right-back. Over the course of his career, he played for several other clubs in Argentina, Spain, Italy, and England, including Deportivo La Coruña, West Ham United, and Lazio. Scaloni was also a member of the Argentina national football team, where he played as a right-back or right midfielder.

Despite his impressive career as a player, Scaloni's true greatness was yet to be revealed. After retiring as a player in 2012, Scaloni began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla FC. He later worked as an assistant coach for the Argentina national team under coach Jorge Sampaoli, before being appointed as the interim coach in 2018. He was eventually named the permanent coach in November 2018. When Scaloni was appointed as the interim coach of the national team, not everyone welcomed his arrival due to his understated demeanor. Moreover, he had no previous experience as a head coach, and was only supposed to be in charge for two months while the federation searched for Sampaoli's successor.

The squad that Scaloni inherited was burdened by a series of losses. The 2014 World Cup final defeat was followed by back-to-back Copa America final losses to Chile on penalties in 2015 and 2016. However, Scaloni's vision for the team impressed, amongst others, Messi, who was left disillusioned with international football after the 2018 World Cup exit.

Under Scaloni's leadership, Argentina went on an unbeaten 36-match run, heading into the 2022 World Cup. The highlight of this run was the 2021 Copa America triumph in Brazil, which ended a 28-year trophy drought. Scaloni's team started the tournament with a draw against Chile, but then went on to win their next four games, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final. It was a triumph that was well-deserved, as Scaloni had instilled a sense of unity and purpose in the squad.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was seen as the ultimate test of Scaloni's coaching prowess. Argentina's first match against Saudi Arabia was a shock loss, but they quickly regained their footing, winning their next four matches to reach the final. Scaloni then led Argentina to their third FIFA World Cup title in the final against France. Argentina won via a 4–2 penalty shoot-out after the match had ended in 3–3 after extra time.

It was a run of games that saw just one loss in 41 matches, a record that is almost unparalleled in international football. Scaloni's success as a coach can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost is his deep understanding of the game. As a former player himself, he knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. He has also shown a willingness to take risks and experiment with different formations and tactics. In addition, he has fostered a sense of unity and purpose in the squad, instilling in them a belief that they can win against any opponent.

Scaloni's journey from underrated player to unstoppable coach is a testament to his dedication and love for the game. He has overcome numerous challenges and setbacks to achieve greatness, and his achievements will inspire.