Ancelloti: The greatest club manager in Europe

While a successful midfielder in his playing days, it is his success in the dugout however, that makes a case for him to now be regarded in many people’s opinion as the best club manager of all time leaving successful managers (still active) like Jose Mourinho and Pepe Guardiola wishing to emulate him.Under him, AC […]

While a successful midfielder in his playing days, it is his success in the dugout however, that makes a case for him to now be regarded in many people’s opinion as the best club manager of all time leaving successful managers (still active) like Jose Mourinho and Pepe Guardiola wishing to emulate him.
Under him, AC Milan won the Champions League twice, in addition to a league and cup title apiece. His first FIFA Club World Cup was also secured in 2007.
Even the shocking loss to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final did not deter Ancelotti and two years later, he ensured that his side would be victorious in a repeat fixture of the final.
Having taken the San Siro giants as far as he could, Ancelotti’s next destination was England in 2009. In his first season, Chelsea won the league after scoring an astonishing 103 goals, a premier league record for one season. The FA Cup was also duly secured.
Success continued to follow the former Parma manager like a magnet wherever he went. An impressive man manager, Ancelotti or Carletto as he is nicknamed converted the potential of the expensively assembled PSG players at his new club into winning talent. The league title in France was claimed in 2013 as the oil-financed club finally got a return on its investments. The egos of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic were masterfully managed.
When Real Madrid became disillusioned with Jose Mourinho’s antics and needed a stabilising force, the Italian was once again called into action to help the European giant.
Right from the word ‘go’, he hit the right notes in the Spanish capital. At first, the club’s decision to sell Mesut Ozil to Arsenal to raise funds for the signature of Gareth Bale seemed ludicrous. Ozil’s chemistry in tandem with Ronaldo was working harmoniously but in the end the decision paid off.
Ancelotti’s tactical acumen ensured that world-record transfer signing Bale would fit in seamlessly with his plans. Out went Mourinho’s predictable counter-attack approach and in came his successor’s 4-3-3 formation. Croatian midfield maestro, Luka Modric, previously sidelined by Mourinho, became a central point in the middle of the park. The attacking trio of Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo clicked into gear soon and became, arguably, Europe’s most potent attacking force.
Ancelotti remains the only man to ever win the Champions League twice as a player and three times as a manager, has won three European super cups and two world club cups and also lifted seven league titles in four different countries.
For the first time in years, Real Madrid aren’t contemplating who their manager is going to be next season.