1998–99 Atlético Madrid season

Arrigo Sacchi was sacked in February with Atlético in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals but also mired in the bottom half of the table. B-team manager Carlos Sánchez Aguiar took charge for the next month, guiding Atlético to the UEFA Cup semi-finals, before handing the reins to Radomir Antić. Antić had guided the club to the title three years previously, but ultimately the high point of his second spell in charge would be reaching the Copa del Rey final, only to be thrashed 3-0 by Valencia. The league form under Antić continued to be mediocre and Atlético were also knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the semi-finals for the second season running, by eventual champions Parma. Although Atlético qualified for the UEFA Cup due to their domestic cup run, this season would prove to be the beginning of the end for Atlético's status as one of Spain's top clubs for most of the next decade; it would be five more years until Atlético recorded their next top-half finish, and another three before their return to European competition.

Squad at end of season[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ESP José Molina 2 DF  ARG José Chamot 3 DF  ESP Toni 4 DF  SCG Zoran Njegus 5 DF  ESP Juanma López 6 DF  ESP Santi 7 MF  SCG Vladimir Jugović 8 MF  ITA Giorgio Venturin 9 MF  ARG Santiago Solari 10 MF  BRA Juninho 11 MF  ESP Jordi Lardín 12 MF  RSA Quinton Fortune 13 GK  ESP Pedro Luis Jaro 14 FW  ESP José Mari 15 DF  ESP Carlos Aguilera

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF  ESP Juan Carlos Valerón 17 FW  URU Juan González (on loan from Real Oviedo) 18 MF  ESP Roberto 19 FW  ESP Kiko 20 DF  ESP Delfí Geli 21 DF  ITA Stefano Torrisi 22 MF  ARG Óscar Mena 23 DF  ITA Michele Serena 24 MF  CZE Radek Bejbl 25 FW  URU Fernando Correa 27 DF  ESP Ramón 28 MF  ESP Rubén Baraja 29 FW  ESP Luis Tevenet 30 DF  ESP Gaspar 31 FW  ESP Loren

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF  ARG Cristian Díaz (on loan to Málaga)