Real Madrid change coach: The intertwined lives of Xabi Alonso and Ancelotti

Interwoven journey

The lives of Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso first dramatically intersected on May 25, 2005 in Istanbul, and 20 years later they continue to intertwine.

In the 2005 Champions League final , Alonso was instrumental in Liverpool's miraculous comeback against Ancelotti's AC Milan, from 0-3 down at half-time to 3-3 and winning the penalty shootout.

Ancelotti and Alonso celebrate winning the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon. Photo: Imago

In 2014, they won "La D e cima" together with Real Madrid . In the 2016/17 season, Alonso worked with Ancelotti again at Bayern Munich.

Two decades after the Istanbul clash, Alonso will replace Ancelotti on the Real Madrid bench . For his part, Carletto Ancelotti will head to Brazil.

Real Madrid felt Ancelotti's project was running out of steam months ago and wanted Alonso .

The new path for Carletto has long been open: Brazil is looking for every way to hire him to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup.

However, President Florentino Perez does not intend to let Ancelotti leave without knowing who will lead Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup , which starts on June 14.

Last week, things came to a standstill. With the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), it was imperative that Ancelotti be in charge for the match against Ecuador on June 6 in Quito.

That was their position until April 29, after meeting Ancelotti in London and the deal was finalised.

But when he returned to Valdebebas that afternoon to direct the training session, Carletto informed the CBF representative that Real Madrid did not allow him to leave at the right time.

That same evening, Brazil announced that the deal had fallen through. Until last Friday.

That morning, in a press conference before Bayer Leverkusen's match, Alonso announced: "The club and I have agreed that these will be my last two games ."

Immediately, the intermediaries negotiating for CBF received the signal: the deal was cleared. Ancelotti could leave as planned.

Alonso said goodbye to Leverkusen to lead Real Madrid from June 1. Photo: Imago

The following afternoon, Ancelotti publicly confirmed for the first time that he was living his last days at Real Madrid.

He even got emotional in the press conference before the Clasico, with eyes that seemed to want to cry : "The honeymoon with Real Madrid is not over. It will last until the last day of my life."

He also had words for his successor: “I read that Xabi left Leverkusen. He did a great job. All doors are open to Alonso . ”

New Adventure

Last Monday, after losing 3-4 to Barca, sources confirmed that Real Madrid reached a 3-year deal with Alonso, starting from June 1.

Florentino P e rez has achieved one of his main goals in this “ cross-deal ” : to get the coach he wants to take to the Club World Cup , with an attractive bonus of up to 125 million USD (about 112 million euros).

Besides, Real Madrid is also close to recruiting 3 defenders to patch up the seriously damaged defense . "Don't forget we are missing 5 defenders" , Ancelotti complained after the loss to Barca .

The first is Trent Alexander-Arnold , while two others have not been revealed, but were completed in time for the special transfer window allowed by FIFA, from June 1-10 .

Ancelotti will lead Brazil to the 2026 World Cup. Photo: RMCF

As news of Alonso's agreement with Real Madrid spread around the world , the same day the CBF formalized the hiring of Ancelotti , who still has a contract until 2026 and three La Liga rounds ahead.

CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues enthused : “Bringing Ancelotti to coach Brazil is not just a strategy. It is a declaration to the world that we are determined to regain the number 1 position . ”

Ancelotti has signed a contract that runs until the 2026 World Cup , with an option to extend depending on results and feelings between the two parties. On May 27, the Monday after La Liga ends, he will announce his first 23-man squad.

While Alonso prepares to take over the coaching office at Valdebebas, Ancelotti will head to Brazil, with his son Davide joining him temporarily until he finds a new place to start his coaching career (Rangers are in contact).

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/real-madrid-thay-tuong-xabi-alonso-va-luong-duyen-ancelotti-2401011.html