Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have agreed a contract extension, confirming his role as head coach until June 2026, as announced by the club on Friday.
The 64-year-old coach returned to the helm in 2021 for his second stint, achieving an impressive LaLiga and Champions League double in his inaugural season back.
Previously set to conclude in June 2024, Ancelotti’s existing contract fueled speculation about his potential move to helm the Brazil national team next summer.
Negotiations for the extension gained momentum following a crucial discussion between Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez on Thursday, according to ESPN.
The negotiations reportedly saw Ancelotti presenting specific conditions for the agreement, including his preference for Real Madrid to secure a center-back in the upcoming January transfer window due to the prolonged absence of key players Eder Militao and David Alaba.
Perez is said to have accepted these terms on Friday, leading to the unexpectedly swift announcement.
Real Madrid, in an official statement, highlighted Ancelotti’s stellar track record during his five seasons as coach, securing an impressive tally of 10 trophies, encompassing two Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, one LaLiga title, two Copas del Rey, and one Spanish Supercopa.
“Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have agreed to extend our coach’s contract until June 30, 2026,
“In his five seasons as coach of Real Madrid, he has won 10 trophies: two Champions League, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, one league title, two Copas del Rey and one Spanish Supercopa.
“Carlo Ancelotti is the only coach to have won four European Cups and has achieved the most victories in the history of the competition (118), and he is also the first coach to win the five major European leagues (Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain),” the club said in a statement on Friday.
Real Madrid’s 2021-22 season, under Ancelotti’s guidance, witnessed significant success with LaLiga and the Champions League triumphs, followed by a more challenging subsequent campaign.
Despite an ongoing injury crisis affecting key players like Thibaut Courtois, Éder Militão, and Vinícius Júnior, Ancelotti has steered the team to the top of LaLiga at the Christmas break, sharing points with surprise contenders Girona.
While there was public interest from Brazil’s football federation president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, to appoint Ancelotti as the national team coach, Rodrigues was recently removed from his post by a court earlier this month.
