June 2014 but failed to win the league in his two
seasons in Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked as manager of
Real Madrid after two seasons in charge of the
Spanish club.
Cup before claiming the club's 10th European Cup
last season.
But this year they were knocked out by Juventus
in the Champions League semi-finals, while
Barcelona won La Liga.
Ancelotti's side finished second in Spain's top
flight, two points behind Barca, who have reached
the Spanish Cup and Champions League finals.
Club president Florentino Perez told a news
conference it had "not been an easy decision"
before thanking Ancelotti and adding that a new
manager would be appointed "next week".
"What did Ancelotti do wrong? I don't know," Perez
added. "The demands here at Real Madrid are very
high. The affection that the players and the fans
have for Carlo is the same as the affection I myself
have for him."
Napoli boss Rafael Benitez has emerged as a
contender for the role, while German newspaper
Bild claims Jurgen Klopp, who will step down as
Borussia Dortmund manager at the end of the
season, will take a six-month break from football.
Real beat city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra
time in the Champions League final in June 2014
to claim 'La Decima' - their 10th victory in
Europe's most prestigious club competition.
It was Ancelotti's third Champions League title as
a manager - he also won it twice with AC Milan, in
2003 and 2007 - but he leaves Madrid having
failed to claim the Spanish title since joining from
Paris St-Germain in July 2013.
The former Chelsea boss, whose contract was due
to run until the end of next season, also won the
Club World Cup in December before Real were
knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Atletico in
January.
In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale
published on Monday morning, before his
departure was announced, Ancelotti said he would
take a year off and have back surgery if he left
Real.
"I must have a back operation because of spinal
stenosis that for some time creates a tingle in my
hands," he said.
"I don't know how long the period of recovery will
be," he added. "I can assure you that I've had
plenty of offers from Italy, England, Germany. I'm
sure they will not be lacking from here until next
year."
An inevitable but unpopular decision?
Spanish football expert Andy West: "In one sense,
Ancelotti's departure was inevitable because all-
powerful Real president Florentino Perez appears
to have taken the decision a while ago.
"Even in mid-March, Perez would only assert that
Ancelotti would be in charge for the next few 'days
and weeks', and from that moment it seemed
certain the Italian's fate rested on his team's ability
to win either the Champions League or La Liga.
"With both those trophies escaping Real's grasp,
Monday's news is no surprise. But the stubborn
Perez has been forced to withstand an
unexpectedly strong degree of public and private
pressure because Ancelotti remained highly
popular to the end.
"His last pre-game news conference on Friday
ended with the media giving him a standing
ovation, which was subsequently repeated by fans
before Saturday's game against Getafe at the
Bernabeu.
"Then several players voiced their support for the
coach, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo and James
Rodriguez.
"But Perez ignored all of them, and now faces a
tough task in placating those within and outside
his organisation who wanted to keep Ancelotti by
appointing a suitable replacement. And the early
signs are that Rafa Benitez would receive little
more than a lukewarm reception."
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