Koke: How one-club midfielder became the rock Atletico Madrid is built on

Off the pitch, it’s a similar story. Koke never shies away from post-game interview duties in the aftermath of a defeat, but rarely positions himself in front of the cameras following a victory.

Koke’s modest selflessness does not go unnoticed by fans, team-mates or, of course, his manager, and Ballal adds: “It is very important for Simeone that there are players who can step up and command the side on his behalf, and Koke does that.

“Koke has always shown great maturity right from his younger days, and his willingness to take responsibility on and off the pitch has made him crucial.”

As he approaches his milestone weekend, it feels appropriate that Koke’s leadership skills – and his insistence upon placing the team’s needs ahead of his own – are required now more than ever.

Atletico have made a worrying start to the season, winning just three of their first six league games and suffering a potentially costly Champions League loss at Bayer Leverkusen.

With Real Madrid and Barcelona both looking ominously strong, Atletico’s hopes of mounting a serious title-challenge appear remote, and Simeone could soon be facing the toughest spell of his managerial career.

But if things do get difficult for the Argentine boss, having the faultlessly reliable Koke at his side, as ever, could make that rocky patch a little easier to withstand.