Stefan Savić

Stefan Savić arrived from Fiorentina in 2015, a Montenegrin centre-back who had played for Partizan and Manchester City. He stayed for nine seasons and became one of the most reliable defenders of the Simeone era.

A defender's defender

Savić was aggressive, good in the air and comfortable on the ball. He began as a partner to Diego Godín and later lined up alongside José María Giménez, and he was never afraid of a battle with the opposition's best forward. He played in the run to the 2016 Champions League final and won the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2018.

Champion in 2021

In 2020–21 he was a key part of the defence that won La Liga, and he captained Montenegro for many years. He left for Trabzonspor in 2024 after more than 200 league games for Atlético.

Legacy

Savić rarely made headlines for his goals, but he made the team harder to beat for almost a decade, which is exactly what Simeone's Atlético asked of its defenders.