 In his youth, he was very passionate about football, playing for amateur teams in his hometown league, and eventually joining the Newell's Old Boys youth team, where he suffered a tibia and fibula injury in 1979, forcing him to retire from playing professional football at the age of 19.During his last playing years and his first managerial years, he also worked part-time on a bank.In October 1991, aged just 31, Sampaoli acted as an interim manager for hometown side Club Atlético Alumni, as manager Mario Bonavera was out on a personal trip.