Who is Carlo Ancelotti? The most successful coach of all time [complete profile]
Carlo Ancelotti, born on June 10, 1959, in the small town of Reggiolo, Italy, has become one of the most iconic figures in world football. With a career spanning both on the pitch and on the sidelines, Ancelotti is the only coach to have won the five major European leagues (Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain) and holds the record for most UEFA Champions League titles as a coach, with five trophies.
In 2025, a new challenge lies ahead: the possibility of leading the Brazilian National Team, the only five-time world champion, to yet another title.
He will be the first foreigner to coach the Brazilian national team and is the great hope for the sixth title.
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Carlo Ancelotti: a bit of the story of the greatest coach of today
Born into a family of farmers, Carlo Ancelotti grew up in a simple home. His father, Giuseppe, worked on a farm, and his mother, Giuseppina, was a housewife. These roots influenced his calm and pragmatic personality, traits that would later define his management style.
Playing career
Carlo Ancelotti began his football journey as a player in 1976, at age 17, with Parma, a club from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, his homeland, mainly playing as a midfielder.
Ancelotti quickly stood out for his passing quality, tactical intelligence, and ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and in deeper roles.
At Parma, Ancelotti was a key player in the campaign that led the club to second place in Group A of Serie C1 in the 1978–79 season. In the decisive playoff match against Triestina, he scored two goals and secured a 3-1 victory, ensuring Parma’s promotion to Serie B. This performance caught the attention of major Italian clubs, and in 1979, he moved to Roma.
At Roma (1979-1987), he became an idol by winning the Scudetto, also known as the Serie A of the Italian Championship, in 1983, as well as four Coppa Italia titles.
His time at Milan (1987-1992) was even more glorious, winning:
- 2x Champions League (1989 and 1990)
- 2x Scudetti (1988 and 1992)
- 2x Club World Cups.
However, knee injuries prematurely ended his career at age 33, but opened the door to a new journey that would place him among the best football coaches in history.
Carlo Ancelotti: One of the best coaches of all time
Ancelotti did not plan to become a coach, but in 1992, he accepted Arrigo Sacchi’s invitation to be an assistant with the Italian national team. His debut as head coach came at Reggiana (1995-1996), a team he helped gain promotion to Serie A.
This achievement led him to Parma (1996-1998) and another impressive result: a runner-up finish in the Italian league.
Thus, still in his early years as a coach, he was hired by Juventus, one of Italy’s biggest clubs. Once again, he succeeded: he won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999, his first title as a coach.
Success at Juventus led him to Milan, where he stayed for eight consecutive years, from 2001 to 2009.
With a squad full of stars like Andrea Pirlo, Kaká, and Andriy Shevchenko, Ancelotti innovated by implementing the 4-3-2-1 formation, nicknamed the “Christmas Tree,” which leveraged the creativity of midfielders behind the striker. Under his command, the club won:
- 2 UEFA Champions Leagues (2002/03 and 2006/07)
- 1 Italian Championship (2003/04)
- 1 Coppa Italia (2002/03)
- 2 UEFA Super Cups (2003 and 2007)
- 1 FIFA Club World Cup (2007)
- 1 Italian Super Cup (2004)
Success at Chelsea
In 2009, Ancelotti took over Chelsea and, in his first season, won the Premier League and the FA Cup, becoming the first coach in the club’s history to win both the league and the national cup in the same season.
Paris Saint-Germain
With his success in English football established, it was time to move to another major European league: the French one. … At the end of 2011, Ancelotti went to Paris Saint-Germain and, in his second season, won Ligue 1, the club’s first French title in 19 years, starting PSG’s era of dominance in French football.
Arrival at Real Madrid: first stint at the club
In June 2013, Ancelotti was announced as Real Madrid’s coach. In his first spell, he won:
- 1 UEFA Champions League (2013/14) – the historic “La Décima”
- 1 Copa del Rey (2013/14)
- 1 UEFA Super Cup (2014)
- 1 FIFA Club World Cup (2014)
Bayern Munich
During his time away from Madrid, Ancelotti took charge of Bayern Munich in 2016, winning the Bundesliga and two German Super Cups.
Despite the national title, he was fired in 2017 after a Champions League defeat.
Napoli and Everton
At Napoli, from 2018 to 2019, Ancelotti kept the team among the top in Serie A and qualified the team for the Champions League round of 16, but was dismissed after disagreements with management.
At Everton, between 2019 and 2021, he brought stability and competitiveness, but did not win major titles.
At the end of the season, the coach returned to Real Madrid, staying until 2025.
Return to Real Madrid
After a brief period away, Carlo Ancelotti returned to lead the Galacticos in 2021 and made history by winning even more titles:
- 2 Spanish Championships (2021/22 and 2023/24)
- 2 Spanish Super Cups (2021/22 and 2023/24)
- 2 UEFA Champions Leagues (2021/22 and 2023/24)
- 2 UEFA Super Cups (2022 and 2024)
- 2 Club World Cups (2022 and 2024)
- 1 Intercontinental Cup (2024)
With 15 titles, he became the most successful coach in Real Madrid’s history, surpassing Miguel Muñoz.
With Real Madrid, Ancelotti became the greatest Champions League winner (5 titles) and completed the cycle in the five major leagues.
Dominance in the five major European leagues
Ancelotti is the only coach to win the five major European leagues, a feat achieved in 2022 with the Spanish title at Real Madrid.
- Italy (Milan, 2003/2004): Used the tactical system known as the “Diamond” in midfield, maximizing Pirlo as the playmaker.
- England (Chelsea, 2009/2010): Won the Premier League with attacking football, scoring 103 goals.
- France (PSG, 2012/2013): Brought PSG’s first Ligue 1 title in 19 years.
- Germany (Bayern Munich, 2016/2017): Dominated the Bundesliga with a balanced style.
- Spain (Real Madrid, 2021/2022 and 2023/2024): Rebuilt the team post-Cristiano Ronaldo, betting on youngsters like Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham…. In the Champions League, his favorite competition, Ancelotti raised the bar, totaling seven trophies (five as coach and two as player).
Besides the titles, Carlo Ancelotti is known for redefining the concept of authority. In his book Quiet Leadership, the coach described his calmness as a strategic force: “Calmness allows you to make decisions coolly, build trust, and persuade without confrontation.”
Controversies and Criticism: The other side of the coin
Despite his success, Ancelotti is not immune to controversy. In 2024, the newspaper Sport revealed that he opposed the signing of Endrick by Real Madrid, arguing there was saturation in the attack.
The management ignored his opinion, but the Brazilian initially had few opportunities.
Another controversial episode occurred after a defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, when Diego Simeone, coach of Atlético de Madrid, suggested that Ancelotti provoked the rival fans. The Italian replied: “Violent acts have no place in football.”
Carlo Ancelotti towards the 2026 World Cup
Since 2023, Ancelotti has been considered to lead the Brazilian national team. In April 2025, Spanish and Brazilian newspapers confirmed a verbal agreement with the CBF, foreseeing his arrival in June, after the end of the European season.
The mutual interest is clear: Brazil seeks a prestigious coach to restore its lost prominence, while Carlo Ancelotti wants a new challenge in his already victorious career.
Read also: Ancelotti and the Brazilian national team: is it finally happening? Remember the chapters of this saga
The negotiation involved agent Diego Fernandes, CBF’s emissary, and foresees a salary of €10 million per year. If confirmed, Ancelotti will have the mission to integrate young prospects (like Endrick and Vitor Roque) with veterans such as Neymar, aiming for the 2026 World Cup. So, what do you think about Carlo Ancelotti in the Brazilian national team?
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