Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Carlo Ancelotti
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Carlo Ancelotti made an impact.
Carlo Ancelotti, nicknamed "Carletto" and "Don Carlo", is an Italian professional football manager and former player, currently managing Real Madrid. Widely considered one of the greatest managers ever, he holds the record for the most UEFA Champions League titles won (5) and is the only manager to have participated in six finals. Notably, Ancelotti is also the sole manager to have secured league titles in all of Europe's top five leagues. His accomplishments further include three FIFA Club World Cup victories and a record-setting five UEFA Super Cup wins.
1974: Began career with Parma
In 1974, Ancelotti began his career with Parma.
1976: Made professional debut for Parma
In 1976, Ancelotti made his professional debut in Serie C for Parma during the 1976-77 season at the age of 18.
1978: Helped Parma qualify for Serie B Play-offs
In 1978, Ancelotti helped Parma to a second place finish in Serie C1, qualifying them for the Serie B play-offs during the 1978–79 season.
1978: Helped Parma get promoted to Serie B
In 1978, Carlo Ancelotti played for Parma, helping the club get promoted to Serie B during the 1978-79 season.
1980: Played in World Champions' Gold Cup
In 1980, Ancelotti played in the World Champions' Gold Cup.
1980: Won first Coppa Italia title with Roma
In 1980, Ancelotti won his first Coppa Italia title with Roma.
January 1981: Scored First Goal for Italy
On 6 January 1981, Ancelotti scored his first and only goal for the Italy national team against the Netherlands.
1981: Won second Coppa Italia title with Roma
In 1981, Ancelotti won his second consecutive Coppa Italia title with Roma.
1982: Finished Second and Third in League
In 1982, Ancelotti helped Roma manage second and third-place league finishes.
1982: Missed World Cup due to injury
In 1982, Ancelotti was very likely to be capped for the 1982 World Cup campaign, but a dramatic knee injury forced him away for several months.
1983: Won Serie A title with Roma
In 1983, Ancelotti played a crucial role in helping Roma win the Serie A title, marking the club's second league title in their history.
1984: Reached European Cup final with Roma
In 1984, Ancelotti helped Roma reach the European Cup final, although he missed the final due to injury.
1984: Won Third Coppa Italia title with Roma
In 1984, Ancelotti won another Coppa Italia title with Roma, bringing his total to three.
1985: Named Roma's captain
In 1985, Ancelotti was named the captain of Roma under the new club manager Sven-Göran Eriksson and served as a mentor.
1986: Participated in World Cup
In 1986, Ancelotti was a part of Italy's World Cup squad, but did not make an appearance.
1986: Won Fourth Coppa Italia title with Roma
In 1986, Ancelotti won his fourth Coppa Italia title with Roma.
1987: Joined Milan
In 1987, Ancelotti joined Milan, becoming a key part of the squad.
1988: Won Serie A title with Milan
In 1988, Ancelotti won the Serie A title with Milan.
1989: Won European Cup with AC Milan
In 1989, Ancelotti won the European Cup with AC Milan as a player, marking a significant achievement in his playing career.
1991: Retired from international football
In 1991, Ancelotti announced his retirement from international football, making his final Italy appearance under Arrigo Sacchi.
1991: Won Second Serie A title
In 1991, Ancelotti won a second Serie A title under Fabio Capello during the 1991–92 Serie A season.
May 1992: Played Final Match
On 17 May 1992, Ancelotti played the final match of his career with Milan, scoring two goals and receiving an ovation from the fans.
1992: Forced into retirement
Despite his abilities, his playing time was cut short by several injuries, which forced Ancelotti into retirement in 1992 at the age of 33.
1992: Played for Milan until 1992
From 1987 until 1992, Ancelotti was a key part of Milan's squad.
1992: Began Coaching Studies
In 1992, Ancelotti began his coaching studies at Coverciano, writing "Il Futuro del Calcio: Più Dinamicità".
1994: Reached World Cup final
Between 1992 and 1995, Ancelotti served as an assistant manager with the Italy national team under Arrigo Sacchi, reaching the 1994 World Cup final.
1995: Began managerial career
In 1995, Ancelotti began his managerial career, working for Reggiana, Parma, and Juventus between 1995 and 2001.
1995: Began managerial career with Reggiana
In 1995, after serving as assistant manager, Ancelotti began his managerial career with Serie B side Reggiana, helping them get promoted to Serie A.
1996: Joined Parma
In 1996, Ancelotti joined Parma as manager, implementing a rigorous 4–4–2 formation.
1997: Impeded Roberto Baggio Transfer
In 1997, Ancelotti impeded the transfer of Roberto Baggio to Parma, a decision he later regretted, stating that offensive playmakers were not compatible with his 4-4-2 system.
1997: Impeded Baggio's Transfer to Parma
In 1997, Ancelotti, then coaching Parma, impeded Roberto Baggio's transfer to the club due to his preference for a rigid 4-4-2 formation that didn't accommodate creative forwards in their preferred positions.
February 1999: Appointed Juventus Manager
In February 1999, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the manager of Juventus, succeeding Marcello Lippi.
June 2001: Dismissal from Juventus
On 17 June 2001, Juventus announced Carlo Ancelotti's dismissal at half-time during the final league game against Atalanta. Despite Juventus winning the match 2–1, they finished as runner-up in Serie A.
November 2001: Appointed Milan Manager
On 5 November 2001, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the manager of Milan, succeeding Fatih Terim.
2002: Won Champions League and Coppa Italia with Milan
In 2002, Ancelotti, as manager, led Milan to win both the 2002-03 Champions League and the 2002-03 Coppa Italia.
2006: Redesign of Milan's line-up
After Shevchenko's departure, in 2006, Carlo Ancelotti redesigned Milan's line-up, devising a 4–3–2–1 system known as the "Christmas Tree" formation.
2006: Devising the Christmas Tree Formation
In 2006, following Andriy Shevchenko's departure, Ancelotti redesigned Milan's lineup, creating the 4–3–2–1 system, known as his "Christmas Tree" formation.
2007: Won Second Champions League with Milan
In 2007, Ancelotti won his second Champions League title as manager of Milan.
2008: Resigned from Milan
In 2008, Ancelotti resigned from Milan after the 2008-09 season, concluding his tenure as the club's longest-serving manager.
May 2009: Publication of Autobiography
In May 2009, Ancelotti's autobiography, Preferisco la Coppa, was published, with proceeds benefiting the Fondazione Stefano Borgonovo for ALS research.
May 2009: Resignation from Milan
On 31 May 2009, Carlo Ancelotti announced his resignation from Milan after their 2–0 victory over Fiorentina.
June 2009: Confirmed as Chelsea Manager
On 1 June 2009, Carlo Ancelotti was confirmed as the new Chelsea manager, succeeding interim manager Guus Hiddink, after agreeing to a three-year contract.
2009: Became manager of Chelsea
In 2009, Ancelotti became the manager of Chelsea.
2009: Implementing Formations at Chelsea
In 2009, upon joining Chelsea, Ancelotti initially used a 4–4–2 diamond formation, later switching to the 4–3–2–1 "Christmas Tree" formation and other formations like 4–2–3–1 and 4–3–3 to adapt to player availability and enhance creativity.
January 2011: Chelsea signed Fernando Torres and David Luiz
On 31 January 2011, Chelsea signed Liverpool striker Fernando Torres for £50 million, and Benfica defender David Luiz for £22 million.
May 2011: Dismissal from Chelsea
On 22 May 2011, Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed from Chelsea after a 0–1 defeat against Everton. Chelsea had finished the 2010–11 Premier League in second place.
December 2011: Appointment as Paris Saint-Germain Manager
In December 2011, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the new manager of Paris Saint-Germain, succeeding Antoine Kombouaré, with the club positioned at the top of Ligue 1.
2011: Became manager of Paris Saint-Germain
In 2011, Ancelotti became the manager of Paris Saint-Germain.
March 2012: First Defeat as PSG Manager
In March 2012, Ancelotti faced his first defeat as PSG manager, with the club losing 1–3 against Lyon in the Coupe de France quarter-final. PSG then suffered their first Ligue 1 defeat under Ancelotti, losing 1–2 away to Nancy.
May 2013: Ligue 1 Title Win and Request to Leave PSG
In May 2013, Carlo Ancelotti clinched the Ligue 1 title with PSG with two matches to spare. On 19 May 2013, Ancelotti requested to leave the club to join Real Madrid.
June 2013: Appointment as Real Madrid Manager
In June 2013, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the manager of Real Madrid, replacing José Mourinho, and signing a three-year contract. Zinedine Zidane and Paul Clement were announced as his assistant coaches.
August 2013: First League Game in Charge
On August 18, 2013, Ancelotti managed his first league game for Real Madrid, starting the season with a 2–1 victory at home against Real Betis. He shifted the team's formation to a 4–3–3, which proved successful.
April 2014: Copa del Rey Title and Champions League Semi-Finals
In April 2014, Carlo Ancelotti won his first major trophy as Real Madrid manager, defeating Barcelona 2–1 in the Copa del Rey final. On 29 April, Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.
December 2014: FIFA Club World Cup Title
In December 2014, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid team won the FIFA Club World Cup title, marking the culmination of a Spanish record of 22 consecutive victories.
May 2015: Dismissal from Real Madrid
In May 2015, Carlo Ancelotti was relieved of his duties as Real Madrid manager, despite having led the team to La Décima and winning the hearts of the board and fans.
December 2015: Confirmed as Bayern Munich Manager
In December 2015, it was confirmed that Carlo Ancelotti would replace Pep Guardiola as manager of Bayern Munich for the 2016–17 season, signing a three-year contract.
July 2016: First Training Session and Match
In July 2016, Carlo Ancelotti had his first training session with Bayern Munich and led them to a pre-season win against SV Lippstadt. His first match at Allianz Arena was a pre–season win against Manchester City.
August 2016: DFL-Supercup Victory and Bundesliga Debut
In August 2016, Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern Munich defeated Borussia Dortmund 2–0 in the DFL-Supercup, marking his first trophy as Bayern's manager. On 26 August 2016, Bayern defeated Werder Bremen 6–0 in Ancelotti's Bundesliga debut.
2016: Became manager of Bayern Munich
In 2016, Ancelotti became the manager of Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga title in his first season.
May 2018: Appointment as Napoli Head Coach
In May 2018, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as head coach of Napoli, signing a three-year contract, replacing Maurizio Sarri.
December 2019: Appointment as Everton Manager
In December 2019, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as manager of Everton on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
December 2019: Dismissal from Napoli
In December 2019, Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed as manager of Napoli, despite a 4–0 home win against Genk in the Champions League that ensured Napoli's advancement to the round of 16.
March 2020: Sent Off After Match Against Manchester United
In March 2020, Carlo Ancelotti was sent off after the full-time whistle, following an on-pitch conversation with the referee Chris Kavanagh after a controversial VAR decision against Manchester United. He was charged with misconduct by the FA the following day.
2020: Signing New Players and Start of 2020-21 Season
During the close-season of 2020, Carlo Ancelotti signed his former players James Rodríguez and Allan, along with Ben Godfrey, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Niels Nkounkou and loanee Robin Olsen. Everton started the 2020–21 season with seven consecutive wins in all competitions, and Ancelotti was named September's Premier League Manager of the Month.
June 2021: Resignation from Everton and Return to Real Madrid
On June 1, 2021, Carlo Ancelotti resigned from his position at Everton to rejoin Real Madrid, following Zidane's resignation, signing a contract until 2024.
September 2021: 800 League Matches Milestone
On September 19, 2021, Carlo Ancelotti reached the milestone of managing in 800 league matches with clubs from the top five European leagues.
2021: Returned to Real Madrid
In the summer of 2021, Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid as manager.
November 2022: Record for Most Champions League Victories
On November 2, 2022, Carlo Ancelotti broke Ferguson's record for most victories in the Champions League, after a 5–1 win over Celtic, which was his 103rd victory in the competition.
2022: Simple Football Philosophy
In 2022, Ancelotti commented on his coaching style, stating that he prefers to keep football simple and not overcomplicate things. He focuses on instructing players on the defensive aspect of the game to allow them more freedom and creativity in attack.
2022: Won La Liga-Champions League Double
In 2022, Ancelotti won a La Liga-Champions League double with Real Madrid.
2022: Ancelotti's Coaching Philosophy on Team Dynamics
In 2022, during his second spell at Real Madrid, Ancelotti emphasized his balanced approach and adaptability, crediting his strong relationship with players and willingness to consult them on tactical decisions as key factors in the team's success. He acknowledged the evolution of training methodologies but highlighted the consistency of his player relationships.
February 2023: Fifth FIFA Club World Cup Trophy
In February 2023, Carlo Ancelotti guided Real Madrid to a fifth FIFA Club World Cup trophy, as Real Madrid beat Al Hilal 5–3 in the final.
September 2023: 173rd Madrid Win
On September 2023, Ancelotti secured his 173rd win as Real Madrid's coach with a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad, surpassing Zinedine Zidane to become the coach with the second-most wins in the club's history.
2023: Comments on coaching style
In 2023, Ancelotti commented on his coaching style in comparison to other managers stating that he is "old school" and believes that the new generation of coaches give too much information to the players about the game in possession, taking away creativity.
2023: 2023–24 UEFA Champions League
In the 2023-24 season, Ancelotti's Real Madrid team won the Champions League.
April 2024: 200th Champions League Appearance & Semi-Finals Qualification
In April 2024, during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City, Ancelotti made his 200th appearance in the competition as a manager, becoming the first to reach this milestone. Then, on April 17, Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals after overcoming Manchester City on penalties, equalling Pep Guardiola's record of reaching the Champions League semi-finals on ten occasions as a manager.
2024: Won La Liga-Champions League Double
In 2024, Ancelotti secured another La Liga–Champions League double with Real Madrid.
2024: Ancelotti Discusses Tactical Flexibility
In 2024, leading up to the Champions League final, Ancelotti emphasized the importance of tactical flexibility, stating that his style is "not recognised" because he changes. He discussed specific strategies used against teams like Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City, highlighting his adaptability.
June 2026: Contract Extension with Real Madrid
In June 2026, Real Madrid announced that Ancelotti had agreed to a contract extension to continue as their head coach until June 30, 2026, despite previous links to the Brazil national football team position.
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