Real
Madrid has sacked Carlo Ancelotti a year and a day after he won the club its
10th European Cup.
Florentino Perez
confirmed the decision to fire his ninth coach in 12 years as president at a
press conference on Monday night, but stopped short of naming Rafa Benitez as
the club's new manager.
The former Liverpool
boss remains favourite to take charge but the news of Ancelotti's dismissal has
not been well received by players and fans.
Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked by Real Madrid after overseeing a trophyless season at the Bernabeu
A meeting with the club's board was held on Monday to discuss Ancelotti's future with Real Madrid
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez announced on Monday evening that Ancelotti had been sacked
Perez
appears to be stalling over a decision on Ancelotti's replacement,
and told reporters: 'We will name the new coach next week.'
Following
a meeting with the board of directors, Perez emerged in front of media at the
Bernabeu, and announced: 'I want to tell you that we have decided to relieve
Carlo Ancelotti.
'This has
been, as you can imagine, a very difficult decision for the board but as always
we have not come here to Real Madrid to take the easy decision but the best
decision for the institution.
'Carlo is
now part of our history. The manager won La Decima. As we all know, at Real
Madrid the demands are maximum and we think it is time for a new impulse. A new
impulse which can allow us to win titles and achieve a maximum level of
competition.
'With our great team, talent, and hard work, we will be able to give
satisfaction and happiness to our fans and our members. I want
to publicly say thank you to Carlo Ancelotti for these two years, for
his hard work and all his affection, and tell him this is still his house and
his home.
'Next
week, we will know the name of the new manager of Real Madrid.'
Ancelotti
had received support from his players before his sacking. Cristiano Ronaldo
tweeted on Saturday night: 'Great coach and amazing person. Hope we work
together next season.'
Madrid
ended their season with a 7-3 win over Getafe, and midfielder James Rodriguez
said afterwards: 'It will be hard to take [if Ancelotti leaves] but I am just a
player and it is not up to me.'
The
55-year-old plans to take a year off to undergo back surgery, but there will be
no shortage of clubs trying to persuade him to change his mind with West Ham,
Liverpool and AC Milan linked.
Ancelotti won the club its 10th European Cup last year but has been sacked as Real Madrid manager
Ancelotti said he has had offers from clubs in England, Italy and Germany as his future was in the balance
Ancelotti
would have been dismissed last year had he not won the Champions League in
extra-time, but he survived after a 90th-minute equaliser from Sergio Ramos and
goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Ronaldo.
This year
the powers that be at the Bernabeu have been unhappy with the physical
condition of the players, and the president is understood to have given
Ancelotti an ultimatum: change your back-room staff or lose your job.
Unwilling
to break up the tight group of assistants he has worked with for the last 18
years, in favour of a younger more dynamic coaching team hired by the club,
Ancelotti was given his marching orders along with 58-year-old fitness coach
Giovanni Mauri and 66-year-old goalkeeping coach Viliam Vecchi.
His
English assistant Paul Clement had already said his goodbyes ahead of taking
the now-vacant Derby County job. What remains to be seen is who comes in to
replace the man who won the biggest domestic prize of all.
The news may not be taken well by the club's players after Cristiano Ronaldo backed Ancelotti as manager
Real Madrid ended their season with an emphatic 7-3 win over Getafe but that could not save Ancelotti
Ronaldo (second from left) celebrates with his team-mates during their 7-3 win in their season finale
Benitez
still looks set to rejoin the club he served as a youth team player and coach
more than 20 years ago. He had been very close to accepting a £6million-a-year,
two-season deal to take over at West Ham, but has only had one job in mind
since being told by his agent Manuel Garcia Quilon that Madrid wanted him.
Supporters
have been as unconvinced as players with only seven per cent of 30,000 polled
by Spanish newspaper Marca in
favour of his appointment.
Borussia
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp emerged as the people's favourite but he speaks no
Spanish and is seen as too much of a maverick by the Real board.
Madrid
also like Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo, and his close links to
super-agent Jorge Mendes.
Rafa Benitez is likely to replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid with the club to announce their appointment soon
Jurgen Klopp has been linked with the job at Real Madrid but is seen as a maverick by the board
Ancelotti has been linked with a return to former club AC Milan but he insists he will take time off
Ancelotti has been sacked by Real Madrid after leading the club on a trophyless season at the Bernabeu
They
admire Sevilla coach Unai Emery, who could win back-to-back Europa Leagues on
Wednesday. He also has his supporters within the club and that support will
multiply if he lifts the trophy in Warsaw.
As well
as a healthy relationship with the president, Benitez is close to his
right-hand man, Jose Angel Sanchez, and the club will look for him to show a
strong hand in a dressing room dominated by Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Iker
Casillas, if he is installed next week.
Casillas
should be replaced as first-team goalkeeper by David De Gea, who Madrid hope
will be the new coach's first signing. Perez added: 'Carlo is a gentleman and
he now forms part of the club's history after winning the Champions League last
year.'
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