Ancelotti to eclipse Zidane and become Real Madrid’s 2nd most successful coach

With Los Blancos on the cusp of winning their 36th LaLiga title, the Italian will surpass the Frenchman’s overall title haul.

During his tenure at Everton’s Goodison Park, a return to the Santiago Bernabeu was not part of Carlo Ancelotti’s immediate plans but then, fate and the game of football have a strange way of working.

Following Zinedine Zidane standing down for the second time at Real Madrid, the Italian coach was not on top of the Los Blancos wanted-list but turned to the Reggiolo born coach after Massimiliano Allegri rejected Florentino Perez’s overtures. The coach stated in June 2021: “I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”

Ancelotti poised to bag second LaLiga title

Fast forward almost four years and Ancelotti stands to win a domestic league title for the second time in his management career after winning the Serie A title with Milan (2004), the 2009-10 Premier League title with Chelsea, Ligue 1 with PSG in 2012-13 and German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2017.

The Italian is also set to move ahead of Zinedine Zidane in the ‘most titles won with Real Madrid as coach ranking’ with the 36th LaLiga title now just a question of time following Sunday’s 3-2 win in El Clásico.

Ancelotti will have scooped 12 titles with the Bernabeu side and could even add to his haul should his side advance and win the Champions League final in London on 1 June.

Zidane secured 11 titles during his two spells with the club but both men trail Miguel Muñoz who holds the record for most titles with Los Blancos with the Spaniard securing 14 pieces of silverware in his tenure as coach from 1960-1974.