Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the new coach of Real Madrid on a three-year deal, the club confirmed on Tuesday. "Carlos Michelangelo Ancelotti will be the coach of Real Madrid next season," said a statement on the club's website.
"Experience, success and reliability in all the countries in which the Italian has worked, he arrives in the Spanish capital after being chosen as coach of the year in France." Ancelotti will be formally presented to the media on Wednesday afternoon, it added.
The 54-year-old Italian's protracted move from Paris Saint-Germain was finally confirmed after the French champions also appointed Laurent Blanc to be their coach for next season on Tuesday. That cleared the path for Madrid to end a five-week wait to announce their new boss after it was announced Jose Mourinho would not be continuing at the club on May 20. However, the former Juventus, AC Milan and Chelsea boss has always been Real president Florentino Perez first choice to replace Mourinho and arrives with a impressive CV, having won league titles in Italy, England and France.
"He has won practically everything in the ambit of international football (two Champions Leagues, two European Supercups, One World Club Cup and One Intertoto Cup) and has won the league in three distinct championships in which he has managed (Italy, England and France)," the club statement said. "Familiar with the pressure of managing big teams on the continent, the Italian is a guarantee to manage and exciting project." It is that experience that Madrid have bet on after a tumultuous final year under Mourinho in which Real failed to win a major trophy and the Portuguese clashed with many of his senior players. Moreover, Ancelotti's proven track record in the Champions League was key attraction for Perez as winning a 10th European Cup remains Madrid's primary objective.