"Madrid will find it difficult to find anyone similar" - Ex-Real Madrid star hails Carlo Ancelotti after their Intercontinental Cup triumph
Former Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic has hailed Carlo Ancelotti as the best coach in the history of the game. The Italian manager made history this week following Los Blancos' 3-0 win over Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup.
It was Ancelotti's 15th trophy as Real Madrid manager and he is now the most successful manager in the club's history. However, things were not so rosy earlier this season, when the LaLiga giants fell to back-to-back defeats against Barcelona and AC Milan.
Mijatovic had criticized Ancelotti during that time, insisting that the Italian manager had lost control of the team. However, the former player was forced to backtrack on his comments this week. Speaking on Cadena SER, as cited by MARCA, Mijatovic insisted that Real Madrid will struggle to replace the Italian manager.
"First of all, I would like to congratulate him (Ancelotti), it is a very important fact to be the coach with the most titles at the best club in the world. It is something that he himself a few years ago did not even imagine," said Mijatovic.
He continued:
"That said, for me he is the best coach in history without any doubt, with his mastery, with the way he treats everyone, with the titles... He is a very complete coach and Madrid will find it difficult to find anyone similar. There will be other younger, more modern coaches, but someone with as many qualities as Ancelotti, very difficult. Practically impossible."
Los Blancos next face Sevilla at home on Sunday, December 22, in the league.
How many trophies has Carlo Ancelotti won in his second stint with Real Madrid?
Carlo Ancelotti took charge of Real Madrid for the second time in the summer of 2021. The Italian manager had spent two seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, from 2013 to 2015. He won the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup back then.
Ancelotti has been even more successful in his second stint with Los Blancos. The LaLiga champions have won the league and the Champions League twice in the last three years.
Real Madrid have also lifted the Supercopa de Espana twice and the Copa del Rey. Ancelotti has won two more UEFA Super Cups, another FIFA Club World Cup, and the FIFA Continental Cup. Los Blancos remain on the hunt for four more trophies this season, which could further elevate Ancelotti's status at the Santiago Bernabeu.