Matías Almeyda
A tenacious Argentine midfielder turned intense manager, known for his boundless energy on the pitch and his demanding, passionate leadership from the sidelines.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Argentine footballer and manager·Birthday: December 21·Generation X
Biography
Matías Almeyda's football life is a story of grit transferred from player to coach. As a defensive midfielder, he was the relentless heartbeat of his teams, winning titles with River Plate in Argentina and Lazio in Italy, where his combative style made him a fan favorite. His playing career was defined by a work rate that compensated for any lack of flash, a quality that foreshadowed his managerial philosophy. After retiring, he immediately stepped into coaching, revealing a natural intensity. His breakthrough came at Guadalajara (Chivas) in Mexico, where he instilled a ferocious pressing system and an unbreakable team spirit, leading them to an unprecedented league and cup double in 2017. This success, built on man-marking and physical sacrifice, announced a distinct tactical identity. He has since taken his high-octane, emotionally charged approach to clubs in the MLS and Europe, proving that his brand of football demands everything but can deliver remarkable results.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matías was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matías Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Matías's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Copa Libertadores and the Argentine Primera División with River Plate as a player in 1996.
- As manager of C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas), won the Liga MX Clausura title and the CONCACAF Champions League in 2018.
- Led the San Jose Earthquakes to the MLS playoffs in 2020, transforming the team's identity with an aggressive pressing style.
- Captained the Argentine national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Did You Know?
He earned the nickname 'El Pelado' (The Bald One) for his shaved head.
Almeyda is known for his extreme fitness; he often participates in full training sessions with his players.
After winning the title with Chivas, he celebrated by getting a tattoo of the club's crest on his calf.
“I want my teams to be a reflection of what I was as a player: aggressive, intense, and never giving up a single ball for lost.”
