Carlo Ancelotti knows a thing or two about European Champions League success, having won the trophy three times. He twice led AC Milan to the title and famously ended Real Madrid's exhaustive wait for a 10th crown by beating Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the 2014 final.
La Decima —
Carlo Ancelotti knows a thing or two about European Champions League success, having won the trophy three times. He twice led AC Milan to the title and famously ended Real Madrid's exhaustive wait for a 10th crown by beating Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the 2014 final.
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Ancelotti is replacing Pep Guardiola as Bayern Munich manager having been out of work since he was sacked by Real Madrid in May last year. Guardiola, the former Barcelona coach, is heading to the English Premier League to coach Manchester City.
Managerial Merry Go Round —
Ancelotti is replacing Pep Guardiola as Bayern Munich manager having been out of work since he was sacked by Real Madrid in May last year. Guardiola, the former Barcelona coach, is heading to the English Premier League to coach Manchester City.
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Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid's star player, suffered an injury worry in training ahead of the final but is expected to be fit to face Atletico in Milan on Saturday. The Champions League's record scorer has scored 16 in this year's competition -- as many as Atletico have scored as a whole.
Ronaldo scare —
Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid's star player, suffered an injury worry in training ahead of the final but is expected to be fit to face Atletico in Milan on Saturday. The Champions League's record scorer has scored 16 in this year's competition -- as many as Atletico have scored as a whole.
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Ancelotti enjoyed a good relationship with Ronaldo when he was at Real, despite rumors of the Portuguese falling out with other coaches, most notably Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez. Ancelotti said: "A lot of people ask me if it is difficult to manage top talent but it is really easy because they are so professional. Cristiano Ronaldo is so successful because he is really serious, really professional."
Hug it out —
Ancelotti enjoyed a good relationship with Ronaldo when he was at Real, despite rumors of the Portuguese falling out with other coaches, most notably Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez. Ancelotti said: "A lot of people ask me if it is difficult to manage top talent but it is really easy because they are so professional. Cristiano Ronaldo is so successful because he is really serious, really professional."
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Atletico's head coach Diego Simeone gives the thumbs up during training ahead of the final. The team plays in the Argentine's image -- dogged, relentless and tenacious. Under him it broke the stranglehold of Barcelona and Real Madrid to win the Spanish League title in 2013.
Thumbs up —
Atletico's head coach Diego Simeone gives the thumbs up during training ahead of the final. The team plays in the Argentine's image -- dogged, relentless and tenacious. Under him it broke the stranglehold of Barcelona and Real Madrid to win the Spanish League title in 2013.
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Real is coached by Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman was Ancelotti's assistant when it secured its 10th Champions League crown, and spent five years at the club as a player after joining for a world record fee in 2001.
Zizou's reign —
Real is coached by Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman was Ancelotti's assistant when it secured its 10th Champions League crown, and spent five years at the club as a player after joining for a world record fee in 2001.
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Zidane scored the only goal in Real Madrid's ninth Champions League success, an incredible volley that sealed a 2-1 win for Los Blancos against German side Bayer <br />Leverkusen at Hampden Park in Scotland in 2002.
The ninth —
Zidane scored the only goal in Real Madrid's ninth Champions League success, an incredible volley that sealed a 2-1 win for Los Blancos against German side Bayer
Leverkusen at Hampden Park in Scotland in 2002.
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In the 2014 final, Diego Godin's 36th minute goal had Atletico in front for nearly an hour until Sergio Ramos equalized in the third minute of stoppage time to force the match into extra time.
Hand of Godin —
In the 2014 final, Diego Godin's 36th minute goal had Atletico in front for nearly an hour until Sergio Ramos equalized in the third minute of stoppage time to force the match into extra time.
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Buoyed by its late leveler, Real went on to score three more times during the extra half an hour, Gareth Bale putting them ahead before further goals from Marcelo and Ronaldo sealed victory.
Bale Tale —
Buoyed by its late leveler, Real went on to score three more times during the extra half an hour, Gareth Bale putting them ahead before further goals from Marcelo and Ronaldo sealed victory.
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The win ended Real's 11-year wait for a tenth European crown.
A perfect ten —
The win ended Real's 11-year wait for a tenth European crown.
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