OFFICIAL: Real Madrid confirm departure of Carlo Ancelotti

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 23 May 2025 11:18 BST
• 5 min read

News

Real Madrid have officially confirmed the departure of Carlo Ancelotti ahead of his move to the Brazil national team.

Ancelotti, 65, has enjoyed a successful four-year stint at Real Madrid since being appointed for the second time in 2021, but Los Blancos have now formally announced his exit, despite the fact his contract wasn’t due to expire until 2026.

The Spanish giants have agreed to allow Ancelotti to depart early following a disappointing campaign that saw them only win the UEFA Super Cup back in August.

Los Blancos finished runners-up in La Liga behind Barcelona, while they lost the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals to their El Clasico rivals. They were also dumped out of the Champions League by Arsenal after a 5-1 aggregate loss in the quarter-finals.

"Real Madrid CF and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to end his tenure as Real Madrid manager. Our club wishes to express its gratitude and affection to one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football," Los Blancos said in a statement.

Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, added: "Carlo Ancelotti is now forever part of the great Real Madrid family. We are proud to have enjoyed a coach who has helped us achieve so much success and who has also represented the values ​​of our club in an exemplary manner."

The Brazil Football Federation has already confirmed Ancelotti’s imminent arrival and he will become the first foreign manager to take charge of their men’s national team in history.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are expected to announce Xabi Alonso as their new head coach shortly. The former Los Blancos midfielder has already confirmed his Bayer Leverkusen departure and he is set to become the new Real Madrid boss ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Alonso will be heavily backed in the transfer market ahead of his debut campaign in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout, with Dean Huijsen’s arrival already announced and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras set to follow the Spain international to Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid

Ancelotti has left Real Madrid with a win rate of 71.6% across his two spells in charge of the club. He helped Los Blancos win four titles during his first stint, including the Champions League in 2014, while he added a further 11 trophies in his second period with the club.

In total, Ancelotti guided Real Madrid to two La Liga triumphs and three Champions League victories across his time at the helm.

He has been tasked with guiding Brazil to glory at the 2026 World Cup and he will have help from a number of his former Real Madrid pupils, including Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

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