OFFICIAL: Ancelotti Departs as Real Madrid Close the Curtain on a Storied Chapter
Real Madrid have officially announced the departure of legendary head coach Carlo Ancelotti, marking the end of a tumultuous season that saw the Spanish giants walk away empty-handed from all major competitions.
After a year marred by disappointment, Ancelotti's reign at the Santiago Bernabéu comes to an emotional close. The 65-year-old Italian now sets his sights on a new challenge at the helm of the Brazil national team — a move long anticipated after the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) prematurely revealed the transition following Madrid’s 4-2 defeat to Barcelona in this month’s El Clásico.
In a heartfelt statement released Friday, Real Madrid paid tribute to their departing coach:
“Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have mutually agreed to end his tenure as head coach. The club extends its deepest gratitude and affection to one of the true legends of Real Madrid and global football.”
Ancelotti’s exit was widely expected after a season that failed to live up to the club’s sky-high standards. Following a triumphant campaign the year before — capped by Champions League and La Liga glory — this season’s fall from grace was stark.
Madrid’s Champions League dreams were shattered in brutal fashion by Arsenal in the quarter-finals. The agony continued domestically as they fell short in both the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals, both times bested by arch-rivals Barcelona. By the time the decisive May 11 El Clásico rolled around, Ancelotti’s fate had effectively been sealed.
There was one final flicker of hope. Kylian Mbappé’s early brace in Montjuïc had briefly reignited title dreams, bringing Madrid within touching distance of Barça. But a fierce second-half comeback orchestrated by Hansi Flick’s side ultimately dashed those hopes, leaving Los Blancos with nothing to show for the season.
A Legacy Cemented in Gold
Despite the disappointing send-off, Carlo Ancelotti’s name will forever be etched in Real Madrid’s gilded history. With 15 trophies over two spells, he stands as the most decorated manager in the club’s illustrious lineage.
His first tenure from 2013 to 2015 saw him deliver the long-awaited "La Décima" — Real’s 10th European crown — along with victories in the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, and Club World Cup. His return in 2021, following the departure of Zinedine Zidane, was met with skepticism, but Ancelotti silenced the doubters in emphatic fashion.
In his comeback season, he led Madrid to a La Liga title and another Champions League triumph, defeating Liverpool in Paris to become the first manager to win the competition four times — surpassing legends like Zidane and Bob Paisley.
Even as the team’s fortunes fluctuated, Ancelotti secured silverware with the Copa del Rey and Club World Cup the following year. Then, with the arrival of Jude Bellingham, he masterminded yet another league and Champions League double — a testament to his enduring brilliance.
As Real Madrid prepares to turn the page and embrace a new era, Ancelotti leaves behind more than a trophy haul — he leaves a legacy of calm authority, tactical brilliance, and an indelible bond with one of football’s most demanding institutions.
A New Era Dawns — For Both Club and Coach
Ancelotti’s departure, though poignant, felt increasingly inevitable as the season unraveled. A crushing Champions League quarter-final defeat to Arsenal, coupled with repeated setbacks against Barcelona in both La Liga and domestic cup finals, sealed the fate of a campaign that promised so much but delivered little.
Yet, with every ending comes a beginning.
For Real Madrid, that new beginning appears to lie in the hands of Xabi Alonso. The former midfield maestro, fresh off a sensational stint with Bayer Leverkusen, is expected to be unveiled as Ancelotti’s successor in the coming days — a symbolic passing of the torch to a new generation.
For Ancelotti, the journey takes a bold and historic turn.
Having conquered club football across Europe, the veteran tactician will now step into the realm of international management. On May 12, the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that Ancelotti would become the new head coach of the Seleção — Brazil’s first foreign manager since 1965.
His appointment follows the dismissal of Dorival Júnior in March, and with the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon this June, Ancelotti’s next chapter begins immediately. The challenge is immense: guiding Brazil to a record-extending sixth World Cup title at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
It’s a mission worthy of his pedigree.
From Reggiana to Real Madrid — via Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton — Ancelotti has left a mark at every stop. Now, as he trades club loyalties for the canary yellow of Brazil, he embarks on what could be the most defining chapter of his storied career: restoring Brazil’s place atop the global football throne.
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