Atletico Madrid Former player is climbing the ladder

Luis Amaranto Perea spent several years at Atletico Madrid as a player, representing Los Rojiblancos from 2004 to 2012 and racking up 314 appearances, the most of any non-Spaniard - at least until Diego Godin, currently on 305, overtakes him.

Now, though, Perea's mind is on other matters as he is working for the club as a youth team coach and loving every minute of it.

Last season he was a member of the Juvenil team's coaching staff, led by Manolo Cano, and he'll work with that group again this campaign.

He has lofty ambitions, although the Colombian is keeping his feet on the ground and is ready to earn his stripes at a steady pace.

"Of course I would like [to be coach of the first-team], but that is still a long way away," he said when asked if he could imagine himself in Diego Simeone's position.

"Right now it's an honour for me to already be working with the youth teams.

"I believe it is a privilege because it's very hard to be a part of one of the world's best youth academies.

"From a personal point of view, it is very nice to be here because I am preparing myself for acting as a coach.

"I am learning a lot by travelling with this squad.

"The best thing of all is that I am developing at my lifelong club."

If Perea does one day take over from Simeone then he'll owe a lot to the Argentine, who coached him towards the end of his Atleti days and who taught him a lot.

"Simeone was the one who helped unlock the values that Atletico have always had," he said.

"Work, effort and sacrifice are non-negotiable factors for any player who wears the red and white stripes.

"What the first team if going through today is much better than a few years ago, because the idea is now clear and every player knows what to do, thanks to Simeone."

Perea has also been sounded out as a potential coaching option for the Mexican team that Los Colchoneros have just started working with, Atletico San Luis, but again he insisted that he is happy where he is right now.