JUST-IN: Ancelotti confirmed as new Real Madrid manager
Carlo Ancelotti has officially been named new Real Madrid manager to replace Zinedine Zidane.
The LaLiga giants had been on the hunt for a new boss ever since the Frenchman’s departure last week following a sub-par 2020-21 campaign.
And Everton chief Ancelotti has been named as the man to replace Zidane, returning to the club he managed between 2013 and 2015.
Ancelotti, 61, had been under contract at Goodison Park until the end of the 2023-24 season.
But after the Toffees’ Champions League pursuit crumbled – eventually finishing the season in tenth – Ancelotti terminated his contract to head back to the Spanish capital.
read also:Shocking: Ancelotti leaves Everton
Everton confirmed Ancelotti’s exit in a statement on the club’s website.
It read: “Everton can confirm that Carlo Ancelotti has left his position as manager to take up the role of Head Coach at Real Madrid.
“Everton would like to place on record its thanks to Carlo for his service to the Club over the past 18 months.
“The Club will begin the process of appointing a new manager immediately and will provide updates in due course.”
Ancelotti added: “I would like to thank the Board of Directors, the players, and the Evertonians for the tremendous support they have all given me during my time at the Club.
“I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.
“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”
The Italian spent two seasons in charge of Real Madrid between 2013 to 2015 having replaced Jose Mourinho.
In that time, Ancelotti won a staggering 75 per cent of his 119 matches and won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Club World Cup, before his brutal sacking.
He was let go after just his second season having led Real to second in LaLiga and the Champions League semi-finals – exactly what Zidane achieved in 2020-21.
Ancelotti had looked set to stay at Everton until their new stadium opened.
But the lure of Los Blancos was too much to resist, with the Italian back at the helm of the Bernabeu boys.