Scaloni, a colleague of Naybet, from shadow to summit.

The name of Argentine Lionel Scaloni, coach of the Argentina national team, is associated with an inspiring football journey that began as a solid defender away from the limelight, before he ascended to the coaching podiums, recalling bright pages written while wearing the Deportivo La Coruña jersey, alongside the Moroccan legend Nourredine Naybet.

Scaloni joined the Galicia region club in 1999 coming from Estudiantes de La Plata in Argentina, finding himself within a formidable football system and a leading school in Spanish and European football, which at the time succeeded in competing with the giants of the "Clasico," Real Madrid and Barcelona, both at the peak of their performance.

The Argentine defender shared the "Depor" locker room, under the guidance of the experienced Javier Irureta, with legendary names, led by the Moroccan defensive rock Nourredine Naybet, who was the actual and spiritual leader of that historic group, thanks to his vast experience and composure on the field in directing the defensive lines.

Thanks to his physical generosity and high tactical discipline, Scaloni embodied the fighting spirit of the "Super Depor," becoming a valuable tactical element in the team's lineup, effectively contributing alongside his teammates to the historic achievement of winning the Spanish league title in the 1999/2000 season, which is the only title in the club's history.

The years spent alongside Naybet represented a pivotal moment in shaping Scaloni's competitive personality and developing his tactical thinking, through exposure to prestigious football schools and participating in major European battles, which instilled in him a culture of victory and teamwork that later characterized his coaching philosophy at the helm of the Argentina national team.

Since taking over the coaching reins of his national team in 2018, the Argentine coach has succeeded in transforming the "Tango" into a trophy-winning machine, achieving a historic treble that included the Copa America, the Finalissima, and the Qatar World Cup, thanks to his adoption of values of humility and collective unity inspired by his previous experience at Riazor, the historic stronghold of Deportivo La Coruña.

Scaloni's successful leadership and his ability to embrace the legend Messi and integrate young talents reflect the qualities of an efficient coach who transformed from a defender in the shadows to a maker of glories under the spotlight.