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Carlo Ancelotti rejoins Real Madrid on a three-year deal
The celebrated coach leaves English Premier League side Everton to take over from his former assistant at a familiar ground where he won the UEFA Champions League during a two-year spell.
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Yesterday Ancelotti said he had to terminate his Everton contract, which was to run until 2024, to take up a "new challenge" at European football's most successful establishment.
"I would like to thank Everton FC, my players and the supporters for giving me the opportunity to manage this fantastic and historical club. I decided to leave as I have a new challenge with a team that was always in my heart, Real Madrid," the Italian tweeted on Tuesday.
Real announced on their website that there would be a ceremonial signing of the contract by Real president, Florentino Perez and the Italian coach on Wednesday after which he would address the media in an online press conference.
The Italian replaces Zinedine Zidane (right) who was formerly his assistant
Ancelotti was in charge at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu between 2013 and 2015, winning the club's 10th European Cup in his first season. The failure to win a major trophy in an injury-impacted 2014/15 season saw him depart after just two years with one Champions League, one Copa del Rey, one Club World Cup and one UEFA Super Cup to his name.
During his first spell, Real Madrid had one of their most memorable runs as they put together 22 victories in a row between September of 2014 and January of 2015, scoring 80 goals during that time and conceding just 10.
Then injuries hit and the season ended with the Los Blancos watching Barcelona win a treble.
There was a change of guard at the Bernabeu as the club brought in Spaniard Rafael Benitez for an unsuccessful season before Zidane arrived to start an era of European dominance with three back-to-back UEFA Champions League triumphs.
One of the most decorated coaches of his generation, 61-year-old Ancelotti has won league titles Europe's other major, having won the Serie A with AC Milan, Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, English Premier League with Chelsea and the French Ligue 1 during his spell as Paris-Saint Germain. Now, he will be keen to win the La Liga Santander to complete the set of achievements.
Since departing Real Madrid six years ago, he has coached Bayern, Napoli and Everton, leading the Merseyside club to 10th in the English Premier League in 2019/20.
Carlo Ancelotti has an ability to connect well with his big name players
Like Zidane or Vicente del Bosque, the Italian has always been known as a players' coach and as someone who connects with his superstars, having been a top-level player himself.
