Carlo Ancelotti: The ‘Diva Whisperer’ | CNN

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Carlo Ancelotti: The ‘Diva Whisperer’

Published 9:38 AM EDT, Fri August 26, 2016
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Carlo Ancelotti has largely built his success on the relationships he fosters with his players. Cristiano Ronaldo labeled the atmosphere under the Italian at Real Madrid as 'spectacular' and spoke out in his desire to keep the coach at the club.
The 'Diva Whisperer' —
Carlo Ancelotti has largely built his success on the relationships he fosters with his players. Cristiano Ronaldo labeled the atmosphere under the Italian at Real Madrid as 'spectacular' and spoke out in his desire to keep the coach at the club.
Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Ancelotti made his debut at Parma in 1976 before joining Roma in 1979. But it was at Milan, whom he signed for in 1987, that he had his greatest successes, winning Serie A twice and being part of the last team to win back-to-back titles in the European Cup  (now the Champions League).
Midfield Maestro —
Ancelotti made his debut at Parma in 1976 before joining Roma in 1979. But it was at Milan, whom he signed for in 1987, that he had his greatest successes, winning Serie A twice and being part of the last team to win back-to-back titles in the European Cup (now the Champions League).
Getty Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Ancelotti began his managerial career with Reggiana in 1995, a year after he worked as assistant coach for Italy as it reached the 1994 World Cup final. After just a year at Reggiana, whom he led to promotion from Serie B, he led Parma for two years (finishing Serie A runners-up in his first season) before then guiding Juventus between 1999 and 2001.
Baby Steps —
Ancelotti began his managerial career with Reggiana in 1995, a year after he worked as assistant coach for Italy as it reached the 1994 World Cup final. After just a year at Reggiana, whom he led to promotion from Serie B, he led Parma for two years (finishing Serie A runners-up in his first season) before then guiding Juventus between 1999 and 2001.
Getty Images/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Ancelotti acknowledges the crowd as he walks out for his first match as AC Milan manager in 2001, the first of his 423 games in charge of the club.
Start of an Era —
Ancelotti acknowledges the crowd as he walks out for his first match as AC Milan manager in 2001, the first of his 423 games in charge of the club.
Ancelotti won a host of trophies with Milan during his eight-year spell but only one domestic championship. Players celebrated the 2004 Serie A title by lifting up the coach following a narrow win over Roma, the club Ancelotti had played for with such distinction for many years.
Flying High —
Ancelotti won a host of trophies with Milan during his eight-year spell but only one domestic championship. Players celebrated the 2004 Serie A title by lifting up the coach following a narrow win over Roma, the club Ancelotti had played for with such distinction for many years.
PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Ancelotti will largely be remembered at Milan for the two Champions League titles he brought the club -- in 2003 and 2007. Here, he celebrates the latter success, as Milan beat Liverpool in Athens to gain revenge for the dramatic 2005 final against the same opponents.
Revenge is Sweet —
Ancelotti will largely be remembered at Milan for the two Champions League titles he brought the club -- in 2003 and 2007. Here, he celebrates the latter success, as Milan beat Liverpool in Athens to gain revenge for the dramatic 2005 final against the same opponents.
MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
After leaving Milan, Ancelotti spent two years in charge of English premier league club, Chelsea. Despite winning the league and cup double in his first season, the Italian was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich on the final day of the 2010-11 season. His dismissal emanated from his failure to progress in the Champions League, with the quarterfinal defeat by Manchester United eliciting a rare display of anger from the usually calm coach.
Chelsea Blues —
After leaving Milan, Ancelotti spent two years in charge of English premier league club, Chelsea. Despite winning the league and cup double in his first season, the Italian was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich on the final day of the 2010-11 season. His dismissal emanated from his failure to progress in the Champions League, with the quarterfinal defeat by Manchester United eliciting a rare display of anger from the usually calm coach.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Six months later, Ancelotti was in charge of French side Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian believed he was going to be involved for a long period with a club built on Qatari wealth but claimed in his autobiography that he was let down by former Brazil international Leonardo, then PSG's sporting director, prompting Ancelotti to walk away from the club in May 2013.
Sheikh, Rattle and Roll —
Six months later, Ancelotti was in charge of French side Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian believed he was going to be involved for a long period with a club built on Qatari wealth but claimed in his autobiography that he was let down by former Brazil international Leonardo, then PSG's sporting director, prompting Ancelotti to walk away from the club in May 2013.
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Another two-year spell soon followed, this time at Real Madrid. After Jose Mourinho had alienated many of the players during his fractious reign, Ancelotti reanimated the team through the strong relationships he formed with the players.
The Real deal —
Another two-year spell soon followed, this time at Real Madrid. After Jose Mourinho had alienated many of the players during his fractious reign, Ancelotti reanimated the team through the strong relationships he formed with the players.
Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
Like all Real coaches, Ancelotti had been brought in to deliver success in the Champions League -- but his target was 'La Decima', the much sought-after tenth success in the competition. Real had failed to win the title for over a decade when Ancelotti was appointed. But in his first season, the Italian delivered the title with defeat of Atletico Madrid -- prompting this reaction at the final whistle from the Italian.
Delivering 'La Decima' —
Like all Real coaches, Ancelotti had been brought in to deliver success in the Champions League -- but his target was 'La Decima', the much sought-after tenth success in the competition. Real had failed to win the title for over a decade when Ancelotti was appointed. But in his first season, the Italian delivered the title with defeat of Atletico Madrid -- prompting this reaction at the final whistle from the Italian.
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
After his dismissal in only his second year at Real, Ancelotti took a break from football spending a year in Canada with wife Mariann, who he marred in 2014. Here, the pair inspect the traditional Bavarian lederhosen which they received in July as the Italian started work in his latest role at the serial German champion, Bayern Munich.
Bavarian welcome —
After his dismissal in only his second year at Real, Ancelotti took a break from football spending a year in Canada with wife Mariann, who he marred in 2014. Here, the pair inspect the traditional Bavarian lederhosen which they received in July as the Italian started work in his latest role at the serial German champion, Bayern Munich.
GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Ancelotti has already won a trophy in Germany, winning the season-opening DFL Supercup when beat Borussia Dortmund on 14 August.
First silverware —
Ancelotti has already won a trophy in Germany, winning the season-opening DFL Supercup when beat Borussia Dortmund on 14 August.
Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
But Ancelotti's decision to appoint son Davide to his coaching staff has been criticized as nepotism in many quarters. Sitting on the bench behind them is Paul Clement, who Ancelotti has regularly worked with since first meeting the Englishman at Chelsea.
Family Affair —
But Ancelotti's decision to appoint son Davide to his coaching staff has been criticized as nepotism in many quarters. Sitting on the bench behind them is Paul Clement, who Ancelotti has regularly worked with since first meeting the Englishman at Chelsea.
Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
Ancelotti's immediate challenge at Bayern is to tweak the possesion-based style he has inherited from Guardiola, who won three championships and two cups during his 2013-2016 spell in charge. "(Possession) is not my personal obsession," Ancelotti has said, while being wary of applying any changes gradually. "I must be careful not to destabilize a winning structure."
Changing Tack —
Ancelotti's immediate challenge at Bayern is to tweak the possesion-based style he has inherited from Guardiola, who won three championships and two cups during his 2013-2016 spell in charge. "(Possession) is not my personal obsession," Ancelotti has said, while being wary of applying any changes gradually. "I must be careful not to destabilize a winning structure."
Marc Mueller/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
In addition to club owners, fans and the media, there is another area of life that Ancelotti professes to have no control over. His eyebrow has become famous for its rise and falls. "Really, I don't understand. It's an instinct. I am not able to control my eyebrow," he laughs.
Mind of its Own —
In addition to club owners, fans and the media, there is another area of life that Ancelotti professes to have no control over. His eyebrow has become famous for its rise and falls. "Really, I don't understand. It's an instinct. I am not able to control my eyebrow," he laughs.
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