It was not an easy day in Valdebebas for Carlo Ancelotti. The coach sat down at a press conference one day after the announcement of his signing for Brazil, and expectations were high. The Italian coach appeared without Real Madrid making any statement about his departure, which will take effect on May 26, one day after the end of LaLiga.
Ancelotti is wrapping up his final days as Real Madrid coach
“From the 26th, I’ll be coaching Brazil, but until then, I’m the coach of Real Madrid and I want to finish the final stretch of this fantastic adventure well. You’ll be interested in what I think and what I’ll do, but I have to think about what I’m going through and these are my last days here. Out of respect, I’m focused on what I have to do,” Ancelotti said.
“Football, like life, is full of adventures that begin and end. It was going to end someday. I’ve had a great time, but like everything else, there comes a time when it ends. I want to finish well because that’s what my professionalism demands. From the 26th, I’ll talk about a challenge that will be very important. I’ve never had any problems with the club and never will. It’s a club that will always be in my heart. We’ve had a great time these past four years, we’ve won many titles and it’s a fantastic memory that will last a lifetime,” he said.
Ancelotti lifted his first Intercontinental Cup in the revived format (he has three Club World Cups, including the one he won as Rossoneri coach). As a coach, not as a player. He lifted it with Sacchi’s Milan after beating Atlético Nacional (1-0) in 1989. The road to that match was paved by the European Cup won against Steaua after knocking Real Madrid out in the semifinals.
He is the most successful coach in Real Madrid’s history
In that regard, Ancelotti is the most successful coach in Real Madrid’s history. In fact, in 2022, he became the 18th coach to win the league title with the first team of the white team. The Italian achieved this in his first season of his second spell as head coach, after having led the whites during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons, in which they finished third and second, respectively. Last season, he repeated the feat with his second league title. Interestingly, he is the second Italian coach to win the league title after Fabio Capello, who won the titles in 1996-1997 and 2006-2007.
At the same time, he is the most successful coach in the Champions League, having won five titles. He achieved this with AC Milan and Real Madrid, two in Italy and three in Spain, the last one in 2024. Bob Paisley with Liverpool, Zinedine Zidane with Real Madrid, and Pep Guardiola with FC Barcelona and Manchester City are the closest to him with three trophies.
Now, of all the coaches who have sat on the Santiago Bernabéu bench, who has been the worst? Who are all those chosen by Florentino Pérez and company since 2001?
Carlo Ancelotti (2021-2025)
Carlo Ancelotti, who was responsible for the start of Real Madrid’s glorious cycle in Europe in the last decade, returned to the club in 2021 after spells at Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton.
In his second spell, he has won a total of 11 official titles, establishing himself as the most successful coach in the club’s history.
These titles are in addition to the four won during his first spell (2013–2015), bringing his total to 15 titles with Real Madrid, surpassing Miguel Muñoz’s 14 and becoming the most successful coach in the club’s history.
The three Champions League titles (2013-2014, 2021-2022 and 2023-2024) make him not only one of the best coaches in Real Madrid’s history, but also one of the best in the history of football.
Zinedine Zidane (2019 – 2021)
After winning three Champions League titles, the Frenchman returned to Real Madrid and won two more titles: a La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup. Zidane decided he did not want to continue despite having one year left on his contract. The Real Madrid legend left the bench with a letter in the newspaper AS that was quite critical of the board.
Santiago Solari (2018-2019)
He arrived as an interim coach but managed to carve out a niche for himself during his time in charge of the team. Solari won the 2018 Club World Cup but was knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Ajax, leaving his successor with a difficult task in LaLiga. He remained at the club in a new role before leaving to coach in Mexico.
Julen Lopetegui (2018)
The Basque coach was in charge of Real Madrid for just fourteen games, with a record of six wins, two draws, and six defeats.
Zinedine Zidane (2016 – 2018)
In his two and a half years at Real Madrid, he made history by winning three Champions Leagues, one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup, two Club World Cups, and two European Super Cups.
Rafa Benítez (2015-2016)
The Madrid native spent six months on the Real Madrid bench. Despite performing well in the Champions League, his inconsistent record in LaLiga cost him his job.
Carlo Ancelotti (2013 – 2015)
Before his latest and most recent spell at Real Madrid, Ancelotti spent two seasons on the bench and his record was in clear decline. In his first year, he won the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, which he rounded off with the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Jose Mourinho (2010 – 2013)
The Portuguese coach was the perfect catalyst for a Real Madrid side that had been struggling for years. His trophy haul in three seasons included one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup.
Manuel Pellegrini (2009–2010)
The Chilean’s stay lasted just one season, during which he presided over the Alcorconazo. The record points tally in LaLiga is the achievement he was most proud of.
Juande Ramos (2008 – 2009)
He took over at Real Madrid following Schuster’s dismissal and coached the team for 27 games.
Bernd Schuster (2007-2008)
The German arrived at Real Madrid to offer a more attractive style of football and won a league title and a Spanish Super Cup in the year and a half he was in charge.
Fabio Capello (2006 – 2007)
The Italian, like Ancelotti, arrived at Real Madrid to win titles again. He won LaLiga after a memorable comeback against Barcelona in the standings.
Juan Ramón López Caro (2005–2006)
He was promoted from Castilla to take charge of Real Madrid after Luxemburgo’s dismissal. His spell was brief, lasting only fourteen games.
Vanderlei Luxemburgo (2004–2005)
The Brazilian didn’t even last a year, divided into two different seasons, from December to December.
Mariano García Remón (2004-2004)
He took charge of Real Madrid after the resignation of Camacho, for whom he was assistant coach. His spell in charge lasted 20 games.
José Antonio Camacho (2004 – 2004)
The shortest-lived coach in Real Madrid’s history this century. He decided to resign after six games in charge of the Madrid bench.
Carlos Queiroz (2003-2004)
The Portuguese coach was enjoying his first experience as a head coach after leaving Manchester United. His Madrid Galácticos side started well, but as the season progressed, they fell away and ended up without any titles.
Vicente del Bosque (1999 – 2003)
The most successful coach in recent years until the arrival of Zidane. In his four seasons in charge, the Salamanca-born coach won two Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, one European Super Cup, one Intercontinental Cup and one Spanish Super Cup.