Legend Quinton Fortune of the Bafana Bafana football team has spoken up about his time as a youngster playing for Atletico Madrid, describing the rigorous atmosphere and the harsh tactics employed by current boss Diego Simeone with the younger players.

Fortune joined the Spanish club at the tender age of eighteen, and he and Simeone, who was already notorious for his aggressive play, shared a locker room. The Argentine's rigorous training style was seen by a number of young players, including Fortune and Veljko Paunovic, who was also a youngster.

Fortune, in an interview with the British newspaper The Times, characterised Simeone as a strong leader whose zeal shone through even before he took up coaching. The midfielder's techniques may be daunting for new players, however, as the South African conceded.

Fortune remembered that Simeone instilled a physical intensity into training sessions by "kicking the c**p" out of young players.

Fortune said at the time that Simeone's Argentine accent made it difficult for him to comprehend what the coach was saying. But he saw the former midfielder's determination and competitive spirit immediately.

Fortune said that, instead of being scared, he and the other kids rose to the challenge. He recollected that they were eager to show the more seasoned player that they could hold their own.

Refunds were made, he said.

Fortune's memories provide a contrast between Simeone's time as a player and his image as a fierce football manager. The Argentine, who currently coaches at Atletico Madrid, is known for his aggressive style of play and his dogged drive throughout his playing career. These traits have carried over into his coaching persona.

Over the course of his more than fifteen-year professional career, Fortune suited up for teams including Mallorca, Bolton Wanderers, Brescia, and Doncaster Rovers. Also, from 1999 to 2006, he was a part of Manchester United's seven-year tenure, during which the English club often fought for major trophies and had a star-studded roster.

Fortune spent nine years representing South Africa abroad. He was a member of Bafana Bafana's roster for the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, as well as the corresponding Africa Cup of Nations.

Without ever setting foot in the glitz of European football, his tale unfolded. Fortune attributes his ability to weather Atletico's rigorous atmosphere to the resiliency he acquired as a child growing up in the Western Cape under apartheid.

The intensity that young players often face while attempting to establish themselves among experienced pros is vividly shown in his recollections of Simeone. These early obstacles, nevertheless, can become an integral part of a player's growth.

Source: https://x.com/kickoffmagazine/status/2111084815613092094?s=46