Lionel Scaloni, from the spotlight to the refuge of Bunyola: the Argentine coach lives in Mallorca

The world champion coach resides in a small village in the Serra de Tramuntana with his family, where he finds peace away from football.

Lionel Scaloni, the coach who led Argentina to glory at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, has found his corner of peace in Mallorca. For years, the coach has lived in Bunyola, a municipality of just 7,600 inhabitants in the interior of the island, where the routine of football takes a back seat.

A bond that began in 2008

Scaloni's story with Mallorca began in 2008 when he signed for RCD Mallorca in the final stretch of his career as a footballer. His time at the club was brief, but that period changed his life: it was then that he met Elisa Montero, a local of the island, with whom he is now married and has two children.

After hanging up his boots in 2015, the couple decided to establish their permanent residence in Mallorca. Since then, the island has been the place Scaloni returns to whenever his commitments with the Albiceleste allow. There, away from the noise of the stadiums, he has built his family life.

Bunyola, the village he chose to disconnect

Scaloni himself has mentioned in interviews that he sought to live "in a village" and that Mallorca offered him the tranquility he needed. Bunyola, located just a few kilometres from Palma, fits perfectly: surrounded by the Serra de Tramuntana, with mountains, forests, and winding roads, the municipality maintains a relaxed atmosphere.

Its cobbled streets and the landscape of olive and almond trees contrast with the hustle and bustle of the tourist areas along the coast. For the locals, seeing the world champion coach strolling through the village or doing the shopping is a common sight. Scaloni precisely values that normality, which is hard to find in other places.

A refuge for the family

Life in Bunyola allows Scaloni to spend time with his wife and children away from the media spotlight. "I live in a village," he once said, describing Mallorca as a place "especially quiet." For him, that calm is essential for maintaining family balance.

While he manages one of the most followed national teams on the planet, with the pressure of repeating successes like the World Cup in Qatar, the coach knows that at the end of the road, his corner in the Serra awaits. A place where football ceases to be the centre and where, simply, he is just another neighbour.