Now 65, Ancelotti is in his second term as Madrid’s head coach, having first left the club in May 2015 before returning to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021. ..Continue Reading
Throughout his time with Madrid, Ancelotti has led the team to 14 major trophies, including two La Liga championships and three Champions League titles.
However, Ancelotti admitted that a disagreement over his salary in 2014 dashed his hopes of renewing his contract with the club.
‘It is impossible to make only good decisions in thirty years,’ Ancelotti said in an interview with France Football.
‘For example, I had a bad one here in Madrid, after my first year. I was very close to extending my contract, the club wanted to keep me, but I pushed too hard in relation to my salary and they stopped.
‘It was a mistake, the worst I could have made. But it allowed me to learn.’
Ancelotti was also asked which players have had the biggest impact on him in his managerial career.
‘Paolo Maldini. He was a special player for me,’ Ancelotti said. ‘He had been my teammate, he became my captain. And he helped me a lot at Milan. We really had a strong, fantastic relationship.
‘Ibrahimovic, of course, with his strong character, his great personality.
‘Generally, the most important players are the easiest to deal with. They may have a big ego, but that can be their motivation. It’s not a problem to have a big ego if you prove yourself on the pitch and behave well. Teammates will follow and help.
‘Last season’s team was the easiest to coach because egos were low in the dressing room. The veterans Modric, Kroos, Carvajal, Nacho, they have no ego. They served as an example to everyone who saw them.
‘From a relational point of view, it was great. No player complained about not playing. It was a dream.’
