Ancelotti takes over Real Madrid hot seat

Italian confirmed as new coach on three-year deal.

MADRID: Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the new coach of Real Madrid on a three-year deal, the club confirmed yesterday.

“Carlos Michelangelo Ancelotti will be the coach of Real Madrid next season,” said a statement on the club’s website.

“Experience, success and reliability in all the countries in which the Italian has worked, he arrives in the Spanish capital after being chosen as coach of the year in France.”

Ancelotti will be formally presented to the media today.

The former Juventus, AC Milan and Chelsea boss has always been Real president Florentino Perez’s first choice to replace Mourinho and arrives with an impressive CV, having won league titles in Italy, England and France.

“He has won practically everything in the ambit of international football (two Champions Leagues, two European Supercups, One World Club Cup and One Intertoto Cup) and has won the league in three distinct championships in which he has managed (Italy, England and France),” read the statement.

The arrival of Ancelotti is also likely to signal the beginning of major moves in the transfer market from them.

The purchase of Malaga midfielder Isco for a price of £25.5 million is expected to be completed this week, and they have also been strongly linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale and Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

PSG appoint Blanc as coach

French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) confirmed the appointment of Laurent Blanc as coach, with the former national team manager signing a two-year contract to take over from Ancelloti.

“PSG 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,” announced the club.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2013.

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