Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is considered one of the most successful coaches in the history of Real Madrid after winning 15 titles, including three Champions League titles, confirmed that his departure last summer from the Spanish club to the Brazilian national team was a well-thought-out decision and an unforgettable feeling, despite the difficulty of leaving the Merengue.
Ancelotti said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper “AS”: “I knew that this day would come someday. I thought a lot before making the decision, and the day of farewell was very emotional. We exchanged a big hug with the Madrid fans, and it was the best possible day to leave. Coaching Brazil is a great challenge and a beautiful dream. I am happy with what I am doing now, I made the right decision.”
The Italian coach, who left behind a lasting legacy in Madrid, recalled his most prominent moments with the team, stressing that those years were amazing not only with titles, but with the path towards achieving them: “We lived exceptional moments. The Champions League comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City and Bayern Munich will not be forgotten. Real Madrid is something that cannot be explained.”
Ancelotti responded to those who describe him as just a “dressing room manager,” saying firmly: “People talk about my management of the players, but my main job was tactical most of the time. We worked hard to integrate young players like Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde and Bellingham. Saying that I am just a team manager is a lie. It is true that I am keen on a clean and healthy environment, but the essence of my work is the tactical aspect.”
He also commented on the failure of the last season with Real Madrid, stressing that defensive injuries were the main reason: “We lost almost the entire defense, from Carvajal to Militão, and even Rüdiger suffered from problems. We had to try players in positions other than theirs, such as Valverde and Tchouaméni. This cost us balance and cost us titles. The problem was not the absence of Kroos or Modrić, but replacing them is almost impossible.”
Ancelotti praised his successor in the Real Madrid coaching seat, Xabi Alonso, who he previously coached at Bayern Munich, saying: “I was sure of his success, and he does not need my advice. I watch all Real Madrid matches to follow the Brazilian players, and I see him leading the team wonderfully. But he must remember that in Madrid, even a draw can turn into a crisis.”
The legendary coach concluded his speech optimistically about the future of the team under Alonso’s leadership, saying: “The team is defensively cohesive and offensively strong, Mbappé is in excellent condition and Bellingham has returned strongly. I think Xabi will achieve success without any doubt.”
Legendary career
Carlo Ancelotti, one of the greatest coaches in the history of football, possesses a combination of deep experience and the ability to lead stars, which has made his name synonymous with success in every team he has coached. Ancelotti was born on June 10, 1959 in the city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and began his career as a distinguished midfielder, where he played for several major Italian clubs, most notably Roma and AC Milan. During his career as a player, Carlo Ancelotti was distinguished by his tactical intelligence, his ability to read matches, and his accurate passes, qualities that later helped him in his coaching career.
Ancelotti began his coaching career in the early nineties of the last century with the Italian club Reggina. He quickly showed his ability to lead teams, which allowed him to move to bigger clubs such as Parma, Fiorentina and Juventus, before taking over the coaching of Milan in 2001. Here began a crucial stage in his coaching career, where he led Milan to achieve great European achievements, most notably winning the Champions League title in 2003 in a thrilling match against Juventus, and another title in 2007, making Ancelotti one of the most prominent coaches capable of achieving success in major European tournaments.
In 2009, Ancelotti moved to Chelsea, adding the English Premier League title and the English FA Cup to his list of achievements, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain and winning the French League title with them. His ambition did not stop there, as he took over the coaching of Real Madrid in two separate periods, immortalizing his name in the history of the Spanish club. During his two periods with Real Madrid, Ancelotti led the team to win three Champions League titles, in addition to winning the Spanish League titles, the King’s Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup, becoming the coach with the most titles in the history of the club, with 15 official titles.
Ancelotti’s coaching philosophy is characterized by the ability to combine tactical flexibility and management of big players. He is able to create harmony between the team’s stars, while maintaining outstanding collective performance, which has made him a popular coach among players and administrations alike. In addition, Ancelotti was known for his ability to modify plans during the match, and to rely on a balanced offensive style of play, which earned him a reputation as a modern coach who balances tactics and the outstanding performance of the stars.
