Carlo Ancelotti Confirmed As Real Madrid Coach

Carlo Ancelotti moves from PSG to Real Madrid, with Laurent Blanc replacing him. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
Real Madrid have confirmed the appointment of the Italian Carlo Ancelotti as their new coach, with the former Paris Saint-Germain coach signing a three-year contract.
Carlo Ancelotti is set to be presented on Wednesday and will replace José Mourinho, who left at the end of last season to join Chelsea. “Familiar with the pressures of managing the great teams of the continent (Juventus, Milan, Chelsea and PSG) the Italian is a guarantee to direct an exciting project,” Real said on their website.

Ancelotti, 54, has been linked with the post since Mourinho’s departureand had asked to leave PSG, but the deal was reportedly held up until the French champions found a replacement. That man was Blanc, who was also appointed as Ancelotti’s successor by PSG on a two-year deal. The 47-year-old Blanc, who left his job as France coach after their Euro 2012 quarter-final exit, led Bordeaux to the French title in 2009.

“Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the appointment of Laurent Blanc as coach for the next two years. He will take charge of the squad on 1 July 2013 for the start of pre-season training,” read a club statement. “The board of Paris Saint-Germain has given Laurent Blanc the mission to build on last season and to continue the club’s ascendency towards the summits of the European game.

Ancelotti led PSG to the Ligue 1 title last term and Blanc, who achieved the same feat with Bordeaux in 2009, has been tasked with bringing further success to the club. PSG also reached last season’s Champions League quarter-final, losing on away goals to Barcelona.

PSG spent lavishly in the past two seasons, with an outlay of around 260 million euros to secure big names like striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and center back Thiago Silva from AC Milan. Despite having a wealth of talent at his disposal, Ancelotti struggled to get PSG to play as a unit and could not add a second trophy to their league crown, much to the disappointment of the club’s owners, who demanded silverware.

When Ancelotti joined the club during the winter break of the 2011-12 season, replacing Antoine Kombouare, PSG held a three-point lead over Montpellier, only to lose the league title by three points in one of the biggest upsets in the history of French football.

PSG recovered from that blow to win the league last season, finishing eight points clear of Marseille, despite a mid-season rocky patch that led to Ancelotti openly questioning the commitment of his players.

Blanc, 47, also lifted the Coupe de la Ligue and was named Ligue 1 manager of the year in Bordeaux’s successful 2009 campaign before leading France into Euro 2012, where they suffered a quarter-final exit.

A distinguished career as a central defender was crowned by his key role in the France side which won back-to-back major trophies at their home World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000, eventually retiring with 97 caps and an impressive 16 international goals to his name.

He also collected league titles in France with Auxerre and in England with Manchester United, the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona and domestic cup competitions with Montpellier, Auxerre and Barca.