DIEGO SIMEONE rushed to bearhug his three children and girlfriend on the pitch after Atletico Madrid’s amazing Europa League triumph.
Model girlfriend Carla Pereyra, 30, and three of the Atleti boss’ four kids were first to congratulate the Argentine on winning his sixth trophy in seven years in charge.
The Simeone clan, minus eldest son and Fiorentina striker Giovanni, were in the stands in Lyon to cheer on Diego, 48, and his rampant Atleti side, who knocked out Arsenal in the semi-final.
The Argentine manager himself was forced to sit in the upper tiers after being hit with a touchline ban for his sending off against the Gunners in the first leg.
But his absence made little difference as Antoine Griezmann struck twice and Gabi grabbed a late goal against ten-man Marseille to easily seal the win for the Spanish club.
It was the second Europa League trophy Simeone has won as Atletico manager, and joins the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish and Uefa Super Cups already claimed.
Carla and Simeone, who is 18 years her senior, are parents to baby daughter Francesca.
Simeone has three sons – Giovanni, 22, Gianluca, 21, and Giuliano, 14 – with ex-wife Carolina Baldini, who he divorced in 2008.
Carla, who has dated the former Atletico and Inter Milan midfielder since 2014, posted a number of videos to social media of her looking after the children in the stands during the match.
At full-time they ran onto the pitch to join in with the celebrations and take pictures with the jubilant Atletico boss.
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Emotions were running high and it was also a special night for Atletico favourite Fernando Torres, who lifted his first and final major trophy with his boyhood club.
Torres, 34, came on in the final minutes and will now make his swansong against Eibar on Sunday.
Simeone said: “I’ve never given him anything.
“For Fernando, it’s a dream come true [winning the Europa League], I hope the crowd explodes on Sunday, he’s a fantastic kid, everything he’s achieved has been earned by him.”
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