Official: Real Madrid appoint Carlo Ancelotti for second spell as coach
The Italian leaves his role as Everton coach to return to Madrid six years after he left
Real Madrid have appointed Carlo Ancelotti as the club's new coach following the resignation of Zinedine Zidane last week.
Ancelotti, 61, leaves Premier League side Everton to return for a second spell in charge of Madrid. He has agreed a three-year deal.
"I would like to thank the board of directors, the players and the Evertonians for the tremendous support they have all given me during my time at the club," Ancelotti said in a statement.
"I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.
"While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time."
Ancelotti previously coached Madrid between 2013 and 2015, leading them to their 10th European Cup -- La Decima -- after a 12-year wait in 2014.
It was the experienced Italian's third Champions League trophy as a coach. He also won it twice with AC Milan earlier in his career.
He also won the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup while in charge of Madrid but a failure to win La Liga eventually saw him sacked in 2015.
Ancelotti replaces his former assistant Zinedine Zidane on the Santiago Bernabeu bench after the Frenchman tended his resignation last week.
In an open letter published in Diario AS on Monday, Zidane explained he left because he felt president Florentino Perez was not prepared to allow him to build a medium to long-term project.
Zidane won three Champions Leagues during his first spell in charge of Madrid but just one league title followed in his second spell, which began in 2019 following a 10-month interlude.
Ancelotti takes over Madrid on the back of a trophy-less season and with an ageing squad.
Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema are now all on the wrong side of 30, while Dani Carvajal and Casemiro are also approaching that milestone.
There is also uncertainty surrounding captain Sergio Ramos' future, too. His contract expires at the end of June and there has been no breakthrough over talks to extend his time with the club.
Comunicado Oficial: Ancelotti.#RealMadrid | #WelcomeBackAncelotti
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) 1 de junio de 2021
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